Uzbek Banker Olimov Abducted in Paris, Freed After Ransom Payment

A high-profile Uzbek banker was abducted in central Paris last month and later released after a ransom was paid, Le Monde has reported. Kakhramonjon Olimov, 48, the sole shareholder of Anorbank, was kidnapped in the city’s 8th arrondissement on June 23 and held for nearly two days. French prosecutors have since opened an investigation, and one suspect has been charged with “organized kidnapping.” The case, described by Le Monde as “straight out of a spy novel,” has drawn international attention due to its dramatic nature and the stature of the victim. Olimov, a frequent visitor to France, had traveled to Paris on a business trip scheduled for late June. His agenda included meetings with French partners, including executives from energy giant EDF. He is reportedly involved in a gas power plant project in Surkhandarya, southern Uzbekistan, through a Dutch-registered company. According to Le Monde, Olimov and his assistant arrived in Paris from Tashkent via Istanbul on June 21. That evening, while at the hotel bar, he was approached by an unknown woman who introduced herself as Anastasia, claiming to work at a beauty salon in Turkey. Speaking in both Russian and English, she aroused suspicion due to her opulent appearance, including a white Louis Vuitton jacket and a Tiffany bracelet, which did not align with her purported background. Two days later, Olimov was kidnapped. He was transported to the basement of a villa near Nice, where he was physically assaulted, threatened, and reportedly subjected to a mock execution. He was later brought to Hôtel-Dieu hospital in Paris on June 25. Medical staff documented multiple traumas and injuries. According to reports, Olimov also exhibited severe psychological trauma, including insomnia and “hypervigilance.” “It wasn’t pleasant for him, but at least it’s over,” his personal assistant told Le Monde. Olimov is now recovering. Anorbank, which Olimov fully owns, manages more than $1 billion in assets and ranks among Uzbekistan’s top ten financial institutions, based on the bank’s own reporting. The motives behind the kidnapping remain unclear. Authorities have not disclosed the ransom amount or further details about the abductors. The case continues to raise alarms in both financial and diplomatic circles, particularly regarding the security of high net worth individuals abroad. French prosecutors are continuing their investigation. So far, only one individual has been formally charged.

New York Mayor Eric Adams Under Scrutiny for Ties to Uzbek Businessman

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is facing renewed federal scrutiny over alleged ties to a Brooklyn-based businessman with close links to the Uzbek government. As The Times of Central Asia reported last year, the investigation centers on whether Adams helped improve Uzbekistan’s public image in exchange for campaign contributions. According to court documents reviewed by THE CITY, the businessman, Tolib Mansurov, a dual citizen of the United States and Uzbekistan, allegedly served as an intermediary for the Uzbek government while also helping to fund Adams’ mayoral campaigns. In return, Adams is said to have provided favorable public exposure that enhanced Uzbekistan’s reputation, despite the country’s record of human rights abuses. Prosecutors describe Mansurov as a well-connected figure who maintained frequent communication with officials at Uzbekistan’s mission to the United Nations. He organized multiple events involving Adams and the Uzbek-American community in New York. One notable event was a flag-raising ceremony at Bowling Green on September 2, 2023, during which Adams became the first New York City mayor to raise the Uzbek flag in the financial district. “Happy Uzbekistan Independence Day!” Mansurov posted on social media. “Mayor Eric Adams made history by being the first to raise the Uzbek flag on Wall Street!” Mansurov also arranged a roundtable at City Hall and hosted various cultural gatherings, including Ramadan dinners and community meetings, through the Silk Road Foundation, a nonprofit he founded. Prosecutors allege the foundation coordinated closely with Uzbekistan’s UN mission. Alongside his community engagement, Mansurov reportedly funneled illegal straw donations into Adams’ campaign. In one instance, he allegedly reimbursed four employees who made individual contributions. He later arranged ten more donations of $1,000 each, again reimbursing at least one donor, according to investigators. In private messages, Adams reportedly referred to Mansurov as “my strongest go-to person.” In May 2024, months after the FBI had seized Adams’ electronic devices, the mayor used a new phone and the encrypted app Signal to ask Mansurov for a favor. He requested that Mansurov quickly gather 20 donations of $250 each to meet the threshold for matching public campaign funds. Mansurov has not been charged but is cooperating with investigators. He has denied any involvement in money laundering, though prosecutors say he received over $11 million from a Cyprus-based entity, which he allegedly used to purchase real estate in Brooklyn. This is not the first time Adams’ campaign financing has come under legal scrutiny. Federal prosecutors have previously accused him of accepting illicit donations and perks from Turkish interests. The FBI is also examining his fundraising ties to individuals connected to China. Commenting on the broader implications, exiled Uzbek journalist Shahida Yakub said, “The regime is trying to gain legitimacy in the West. They always want to be liked by the U.S. The mayor of New York is important.” Federal investigators continue to probe Adams’ relationships with foreign governments and the role of campaign donations in potentially influencing his political conduct.