Comment by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the criminal case against a Russian national in Uzbekistan

With regard to the initiation of a criminal case in Uzbekistan, against the President of the Perm West-Urals Engineering Holding, the Russian national Alexander Pozdneev, who was arrested during an investigation which caused a noticeable resonance in the mass media, and in answer to the questions addressed to us, we can provide the following comment.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been following the development of the situation closely since the 13 May – the day the businessman Alexander Pozdneev was detained in Tashkent. These events did not go unnoticed by the Russian business community, which believes that such incidents significantly harm Russian-Uzbek trade and economic cooperation, and have a harmful effect on the investment climate in the republic.

The Russian Embassy in Tashkent contacted Uzbekistan immediately to get consular access to Alexander Pozdneev, however this request has still not been satisfied.

According to incoming reports, the appeal filed by Alexander Pozdneev's lawyers at the session of the city court on the 19 May, asked for the interim measure against him to be changedfrom arrest to travel restrictions. This petition was supported by the respective request of the Russian Embassy to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

We express our concerns with regard to the situation surrounding Alexander Pozdneev. Because of the lack of constructive interaction on the part of the judicial bodies, different rumours and guesses are circulating, which throw a shadow on the always high level of strategic partnership and allied relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Uzbekistan.

21 May 2014