Swedish incumbent telco TeliaSonera has expressed its concern over the business climate in Uzbekistan, where it owns a mobile operator called Ucell.
MTS, Uzbekistan’s largest operator, had its telecoms licence revoked earlier this year after the…
Swedish incumbent telco TeliaSonera has expressed its concern over the business climate in Uzbekistan, where it owns a mobile operator called Ucell.
MTS, Uzbekistan’s largest operator, had its telecoms licence revoked earlier this year after the country’s government accused it, among other things, of tax evasion. On 17 September, the government seized all of MTS’ assets.
In a statement emailed to journalists today, Cecilia Edström, TeliaSonera’s head of group communications, said the operator was “concerned about the recent developments” with MTS.
“It is one of the worst things which can happen to a telecoms operator, therefore we are closely monitoring the situation,” said Edström.
Her comments came ahead of a current affairs programme, called Uppdrag gransking, which will broadcast as yet undisclosed allegations relating to TeliaSonera’s own Uzbek operations.
Edström said the company would only comment on the allegations in the programme tomorrow.
TeliaSonera’s human rights record has recently come under the media spotlight, as it faces accusations of cooperating with authoritarian governments in Uzbekistan, as well as in Azerbaijan and Belarus.
Last month, TeliaSonera CEO Lars Nyberg said the company planned to focus more on human rights issues where it operates.
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