Swiss Court Dismisses Corruption Case Against Gulnara Karimova
A Swiss court has dismissed a long-running corruption and money laundering case against Gulnara Karimova, citing procedural obstacles and time constraints.
The Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona halted the proceedings shortly after the trial began, ruling that no verdict could be reached before the statute of limitations expires. The decision effectively ends the Swiss case against Karimova, who is currently serving a prison sentence in Uzbekistan and was unable to attend the hearings.
Karimova had been accused of running a criminal network known as «The Office,» allegedly involving dozens of individuals and channelling hundreds of millions of dollars through Swiss accounts between 2005 and 2013.
Her legal team described the court’s decision as equivalent to an acquittal under Swiss law, arguing that the inability to proceed with the case constituted a «lasting impediment.»
Despite the dismissal, related proceedings are expected to continue against other defendants, including a Swiss private bank accused of helping conceal illicit funds.
Karimova, the daughter of former Uzbek leader Islam Karimov, remains imprisoned in Uzbekistan until at least 2028 following separate convictions on corruption-related charges.
