Gulnara Karimova’s confiscated Swiss assets being directed to finance social projects in Uzbekistan

According to the Ministry of Finance’s press service, at the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, illegally acquired assets confiscated in Switzerland are being redirected toward the development of healthcare and education in Uzbekistan.

In 2022, under a bilateral agreement between Uzbekistan and Switzerland regarding asset restitution, the "Ishonch" Fund was established within a multilateral UN trust mechanism. To ensure proper allocation of the fund’s resources, a Strategic Committee and a Civil Society Advisory Council were formed.

The first tranche of $131 million was returned and allocated to social development projects. In healthcare, these funds were used to purchase 5,841 units of modern medical equipment, comprising 23 types, for 230 perinatal centers across the country. With the savings generated from the procurement, an additional 1,400 medical devices are planned for delivery.

Moreover, with support from UN agencies, over 11,000 healthcare professionals received training. A total of 29 national protocols and medical guidelines in maternity institutions were updated to meet international standards.

In the education sector, the projects funded by the "Ishonch" Fund follow two main directions. The first is aimed at expanding educational opportunities through the implementation of digital technologies and solutions.

The second focuses on developing a project in cooperation with international organizations to improve sanitation and hygiene conditions in schools, modernize heating systems, and increase community involvement in school management.

It’s worth noting that in February of this year, Uzbekistan and Switzerland reached an agreement on the return of an additional $182 million as part of a second tranche.

With this, the total amount of Gulnara Karimova’s repatriated assets will reach $313 million.