Gulnara Karimova, who has virtually become the princess of the Uzbek feudal system built by her farther, is behind the protest held in front of the Swiss embassy, independent sources report.

The picket outside the Swiss embassy; photo: uzmetronom.com 09.08.12 03:15Arrests in Switzerland and rare authorised picket in Tashkent A picket was held outside the Swiss embassy in Tashkent on 6 August to protest against the detention of two Uzbek citizens in Switzerland, the Swiss Foreign Ministry has reported. The picket in support of the two Uzbeks detained on suspicion of money laundering and document forgery in Switzerland did take place in Tashkent. The Swiss Foreign Ministry said that a small group of about ten people gathered outside the embassy in Tashkent on Monday, 6 August. They came to the entrance of the embassy and passed a petition with regard to the detention in Switzerland. An Internet report earlier said that a picket was held outside the Swiss embassy in Tashkent on 4 August. The Swiss Foreign Ministry clarified that the ambassador and a number of diplomats were at work between 1500 and 1800 on Sunday, and did not notice any picket during that time. However, their attention was drawn by policemen who numbered more than usual. Prosecutors launch investigation In response to an Uznews.net request, the Swiss Prosecutor-General’s Office confirmed the arrest of the two Uzbek citizens. “They were detained as part of investigation conducted by the Prosecutor-General’s Office,” the office spokeswoman, Jacqueline Bühlmann, said. A criminal case on money laundering charges was opened against four Uzbek citizens in Switzerland, Bühlmann said. Two of them have now been taken into custody. Details of the investigation cannot be publicised at the moment, the Swiss Prosecutor-General’s Office explained. Ordinary Muslim in Geneva? The Uzbek pseudo-independent news website
They were detained as part of investigation conducted by the Prosecutor-General’s Office”
The Swiss Foreign Ministry press service

target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”>uzmetronom.com has reported the identities of the detained Uzbeks.

Used by the Uzbek authorities to report favourable information, uzmetronom.com published a letter from the wife of one of the detainees, Shohruh Sabirov, with sympathy, which is rare for the website, and without any sarcasm.

Shoira Sabirova wrote in defence of her spouse, emphasising his Muslim religion and pointing to the fact that his arrest could be linked to the discrimination of Muslims in Europe.

“During this holy month for Muslim believers, Shohruh Sabirov, who is fasting now, was detained in Geneva because he happened to be nearby during the detention of the other man, Alisher Ergashev, who also came from Uzbekistan…”

“… I have often heard about biased attitude in Switzerland towards Arabs and Muslims from other countries. It is so pity that this happened to my kind, peaceful and law-abiding husband, who is growing three children.

“Now we are awaiting the fourth one, I am pregnant, and there is a risk of miscarriage during early pregnancy because of a nervous breakdown… It is awful to imagine that this happens in the so-called free and democratic Switzerland…,” Sabirova said in her letter.

Picket in support of Muslims in Tashkent?

Independent sources have different explanation for the active defence of Shohruh Sabirov and Alisher Ergashev, who were detained in Switzerland, in Tashkent.

These two worked for the president’s elder daughter, Gulnara Karimova, and had come to Switzerland to fulfil her financial orders.

The fact that this can be true is evident from two eye-catching things: the sanctioned picket in Tashkent and the unexpected protection for a Muslim in the country that is notorious for its severe persecution of believers, mainly Muslims.

Uzbek President Islam Karimov, who has clung to power since 1989, has never showed tolerance towards any form of protest and rallies during his ruling.

Small pickets in Tashkent and other cities of the country have ended with shredded banners, twisted arms, detentions and fines while big rallies such as the one held in Andijan on 13 May 2005 ended with the massacre.

The picket held outside the Swiss embassy was not dispersed by anyone and the Swiss Foreign Ministry reported additional police detachments had been sent to the embassy neighbourhood to provide order and security since Saturday.

Sabirova’s statement about her arrested spouse, who is said to be a victim of the discrimination of Muslims in Switzerland, looks funny. The statement is voiced in the country that covertly declared a war against independent Islam. For two decades Uzbek courts and prisons have been busy “investigating” cases against Muslims, ruining their lives.

The attempt on the life of imam Obid-kori Nazarov, who was critically wounded by a hitman in Sweden on 22 February, proved that Uzbek preachers of Islam could not stay safe even after finding shelter in Europe.

Googoosha, Googoosha, Googoosha…

Gulnara Karimova, who has virtually become the princess of the Uzbek feudal system built by her farther, is behind the protest held in front of the Swiss embassy, independent sources report.

According to centrasia.ru, the men arrested in Switzerland are financial assistants of Karimova and had worked for her company Coca-Cola Uzbekistan.

They were arrested in the building of Lombard Odier in Geneva.

The news agency said Islam Karimov’s family had sent profits received from the sale of Coca-Cola in Uzbekistan to accounts in the bank through straw companies and banks in the UK.

Part of this money, according to the article, is gained thanks to customs and tax preferences that Coca-Cola Uzbekistan has enjoyed for many years, while another part as net profit.

Uznews.net

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