Karimova's Lawyer Asks Bern to Suspend Probe Over Inability to Meet Client

A Swiss lawyer of Gulnara Karimova, eldest daughter of the late Uzbek longtime president Islam Karimov, on Friday asked the Swiss Prosecutor General's Office to suspend the proceedings against her because of the inability to meet with the client.

PARIS (Sputnik) — Swiss prosecutors have been investigating Karimova, 45, on suspicion of money laundering since late 2013.

"In view of the impossibility of contacting my trustee, I am deprived of the opportunity to defend her as required by a fair trial," Gregoire Mangeat said in a statement.

"In this regard, a new request for suspension of the trial has been sent to the Swiss Prosecutor General's Office," Mangeat added.

The Uzbek Prosecutor-General's Office said earlier on Friday that Karimova was is in custody following a 2015 conviction on a variety of corruption charges, and faces additional charges in a continuing investigation.