The agreement provides for the return to Uzbekistan of funds in the amount of approximately 182 million US dollars. These funds have been illegally acquired by citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan and have been definitively forfeited in criminal proceedings in connection with Ms. Gulnara Karimova initiated in 2012 by the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland.

The restitution of these funds will be made through the United Nations Uzbekistan Vision 2030 Multi-Partner Trust Fund.

It should be noted that on 16 August 2022, Uzbekistan and Switzerland signed a restitution agreement in Berne “On the modalities for the return of illegally acquired assets forfeited in the Swiss Confederation to the benefit of the population of the Republic of Uzbekistan”. This agreement establishes the mechanism to return illegally acquired assests to Uzbekistan using the United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund called “Uzbekistan Vision 2030 Fund”, as well as the basic principles, mechanisms and goals of the restitution.

Within the same framework, a first agreement signed in August 2022 provides for the return to Uzbekistan of assets equal to approximately 131 million US dollars. With the signature of the newest agreement, the total amount of funds returned to the benefit of the population of Uzbekistan raises to 313 million US dollars.

Through the “Uzbekistan Vision 2030 Fund”, the returned funds are directed to the benefit of the population of Uzbekistan, in particular to the implementation of socially significant projects, including on public health and education. Information about the Fund and its projects is publicly available in Uzbek and English language on the Fund’s website: https://www.ishonch.org/.