US extended sanctions against Gulnara Karimova

The United States extended sanctions against Gulnara Karimova, which were introduced in December 2017 in accordance with the global Magnitsky Act, because of allegations of corruption and human rights violations, the White House press service said.

US President Donald Trump extended restrictions for another year in compliance with the decree 13818 of December 2017. This decree introduced sanctions under the “Magnitsky Act” against a number of people accused of corruption and human rights violations.

A list of 13 citizens of various countries who fall under the sanctions is posted on the website of the US Treasury. It includes citizens of Russia, Serbia, China, Nicaragua, South Sudan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan (Gulnara Karimova).

“The prevalence and severity of human rights abuse and corruption that have their source, in whole or substantial part, outside the United States, continue to threaten the stability of international political and economic systems. Human rights abuse and corruption undermine the values that form an essential foundation of stable, secure, and functioning societies; have devastating impacts on individuals; weaken democratic institutions; degrade the rule of law; perpetuate violent conflicts; facilitate the activities of dangerous persons; undermine economic markets; and continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13818 with respect to serious human rights abuse and corruption,” Donald Trump’s message reads.

It should be recalled that the Prosecutor General’s Office of Uzbekistan on July 28, 2017 reported that in August 2015, a court in Tashkent found Gulnara Karimova guilty of tax evasion, embezzlement, extortion and other crimes and sentenced her to five years of restraint of liberty.

Later, the agency reported that another criminal case was initiated against Karimova on charges of fraud, hiding foreign currency, violation of customs legislation and legalization of proceeds from crime.

According to investigators, with the help of accomplices, Karimova legalized assets in the amount of over 1.3 billion dollars, 63.5 million euros, 27.1 million pounds and 18.5 million francs in 12 foreign countries. It is alleged that in Switzerland there are cash in the amount of 777.8 million dollars.

The total amount of damage caused to the state and citizens in two criminal cases by Karimova is 1.27 trillion soums, 1.6 billion dollars and 26.1 million euros.