Swedish incumbent TeliaSonera has responded to the latest allegations of bribery in Uzbekistan, saying it has “zero tolerance” against corruption.
In an announcement made today, the telco referred to email correspondence published last week alluding…
Swedish incumbent TeliaSonera has responded to the latest allegations of bribery in Uzbekistan, saying it has “zero tolerance” against corruption.
In an announcement made today, the telco referred to email correspondence published last week alluding to Gulnara Karimova, the controversial daughter of Uzbek president Islam Karimov, and her involvement in the case.
“The agreement with the local partner Takilant was signed on December 24, 2007, with its only registered director Gayane Avakyan,” said the statement. “[The question of] if there were any other beneficiaries behind the local partner has been the subject of much speculation and rumours.”
The statement went on to say that Karimova was rumoured to be behind the local partner, but during the due diligence process TeliaSonera “could not identify any other beneficiaries” to the deal.
The allegations against the company were made in mid-September in a Swedish broadcast that looked into the deal it secured with Takilant for an Uzbek 3G licence.
Anti-corruption investigators have subsequently launched a probe into the matter and TeliaSonera has also hired Mannheimer Swartling to conduct its own external review into the allegations.
“We are still convinced that the ongoing investigations will clarify that we have not bribed anyone or participated in money laundering,” continued today’s statement. “We have zero tolerance against corruption and we are confident that the investigations will show what has really occurred”.
TelecomFinance reported last month that TeliaSonera’s chairman Anders Narvinger plans to step down in April to give the Swedish telco a “new start” following the controversy.
The company is also searching for a replacement for CEO Lars Nyberg, whose contract expires in December 2013.
