Gulnara Karimova, 52, is the daughter of Islam Karimov, the former president of Uzbekistan. Once a prominent figure in Uzbekistan, she held various influential positions, including roles as an adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Uzbekistan’s ambassador to Spain. She also pursued a career in entertainment under the pseudonym Googoosha. However, her prominence took a dramatic turn when she was implicated in extensive criminal activities.
Criminal Activities
Karimova is accused of leading an international criminal organization known as “The Office,” which engaged in money laundering, bribery, and other illicit activities. The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG), on 28 September 2023, filed its indictment in the Federal Criminal Court (FCC) against Gulnara Karimova. The charges include participation in a criminal organization, money laundering, acceptance of bribes as a foreign public official, and forgery of documents.
This organization reportedly controlled assets exceeding $1 billion across multiple countries, including the UK, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates. The primary focus of their operations was the telecommunications sector in Uzbekistan, where foreign companies were allegedly required to pay bribes to gain market access.
Karimova’s organization used Swiss bank accounts to launder money obtained through bribes and corrupt dealings. These funds were often moved through complex networks involving multiple countries before being deposited into Swiss accounts under false names.
As of 2024, she is serving a 13-year jail term that was handed down in 2020. She is incarcerated at a penitentiary in the Zangiota district of Tashkent region
Involvement of Lombard Odier
Recently, Swiss prosecutors charged Lombard Odier, one of Switzerland’s oldest private banks, with aggravated money laundering. The bank is accused of helping conceal proceeds from Karimova’s criminal activities between 2005 and 2012. This indictment highlights serious internal organizational deficiencies at Lombard Odier concerning their handling of politically exposed persons like Karimova.
Current Status
Gulnara Karimova is currently serving a prison sentence in Uzbekistan following convictions for fraud and money laundering. Her case has drawn international attention, with investigations spanning several countries, including Sweden, France, Norway, the Netherlands, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The ongoing legal proceedings continue to unravel the extensive network of corruption linked to her and “The Office.”