Sensational news has arrived from Switzerland: the country's Federal Criminal Court has put an end to the long-running and highly debated case of Gulnora Karimova. Zamin.uz presents this unexpected legal decision made in the city of Bellinzona and the reasons behind it.
"Permanent Obstacle": Why was the case stopped?
According to information released via the Swiss national television channel, the Federal Court concluded that there is an insurmountable legal obstacle to continuing the criminal proceedings. The primary reason cited was the defendant's inability to participate in the trial in person.
It is known that Gulnora Karimova has been held in custody in Uzbekistan since 2014. Her defense team claims that although Karimova wished to attend the trial, local authorities did not grant her permission to leave the country. The court assessed this situation as an "objective impossibility."
2028 and the time factor
The court also took another important aspect into account—the statute of limitations. According to analysis, if Karimova is released in 2028, the statute of limitations for the charges in Switzerland will have expired by that time. Therefore, it was determined that continuing the process under current conditions lacks legal logic.
Reaction of lawyers: "This is effectively an acquittal"
Karimova's international legal team (Grégoire Mangeat, Fanny Margairaz, and Romain Wavre) welcomed this decision as a major victory. In their view, the recognition that a verdict cannot be reached without ensuring human rights—specifically, without the participation of the accused—is effectively equivalent to an acquittal.
"The Swiss justice system has confirmed the existence of a permanent obstacle preventing the continuation of the proceedings. For us, this is a significant step toward the restoration of our client's rights," the defense statement reads.
A look back: "The Office" and million-dollar allegations
As a reminder, this criminal case was initiated in 2012, with the Prosecutor's Office accusing Karimova of the following:
Establishing a criminal group and managing a network known as "The Office";
Receiving large-scale bribes from international telecommunications companies;
Money laundering and falsification of documents.
After a long-running investigation, the case was only referred to court in the autumn of 2023. Now, due to procedural reasons, one of the largest international cases against Gulnora Karimova has been closed.
Dear readers, do you think this decision by the Swiss court is fair? Do you agree with the opinion that a trial cannot be held without the participation of the individual?
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