Uzbek dissidents 'occupy' Gulnara Karimova's Geneva house
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 24 December 2013 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Uzbek dissidents 'occupy' Gulnara Karimova's Geneva house, 24 December 2013, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/52e65a3d7.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
December 24, 2013
By RFE/RL's Uzbek Service
Uzbek dissident Safar Bekjon stands next to the sign identifying Gulnora Karimova's house in Geneva on December 23.
GENEVA – A group of Uzbek dissidents in Switzerland has occupied the house of Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of Uzbek President Islam Karimov.
Safar Bekjon, an Uzbek dissident, said he and four others had been squatting at Karimova's Geneva house since December 23.
Bekjon, speaking to RFE/RL's Uzbek Service, said his goal was to draw attention to the vast amount of money spent on the unoccupied house.
According to the Swiss press, Karimova purchased the house in 2009 for around $18 million.
Bekjon said police came to the house on December 23 but did not force them off the property.
He says that under Swiss law they can only be evicted after a court ruling.
A banner outside the house read, "This villa belongs to Uzbek dictator Karimov's daughter."
Bekjon did not say how long the group planned to squat at the house.
With reporting by Fergana
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
