Uzbek dissident forced to leave Karimova's Geneva home
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 30 December 2013 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Uzbek dissident forced to leave Karimova's Geneva home, 30 December 2013, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/52e65a9319.html [accessed 2 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 30, 2013
By RFE/RL's Uzbek Service
Gulnara Karimova
An Uzbek dissident who had been living in a Geneva mansion owned by Gulnara Karimova says he has been evicted.
Safar Bekjon, 52, an Uzbek political refugee, had been occupying Karimova's $20 million residence since December 23 in an effort, he said, to document her excesses.
Bekjan said he used a key to enter the home but refused to say who gave it to him.
Bekjon posted photographs online of items he says were inside, including 60 works of art allegedly stolen from Uzbek state musuems.
Bekjon told RFE/RL that guards hired by Karimova – the eldest daughter of Uzbek President Islam Karimov – threw him and his wife out on December 28.
He was not charged.
Karimova has been tied to ongoing money-laundering investigations in Sweden and Switzerland.
On Twitter, Karimova blamed members of the Uzbek presidential security services for giving Bekjon the key.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
