US prosecutors are pursuing the seizure of $1bn in assets tied to a criminal corruption probe of Uzbekistan, to which they've linked foreign telecoms VimpelCom, Mobile TeleSystems and TeliaSonera.
Authorities think the firms (based in the Netherlands, Russia and Sweden respectively) sent hundreds of millions of dollars to business controlled by Gulnara Karimova, daughter to Uzbek President Islam Karimov, to secure wireless spectrum there.
The US is asking European banks to assist in grabbing the funds, part of a recently more aggressive push against foreign corruption -- which has jurisdiction with regard to VimpelCom and MTS since they trade on US Exchanges. TeliaSonera delisted about 10 years ago, but could be involved if its deals used the US financial system. Its CEO Lars Nyberg resigned in 2013 amid criticism of the company's Uzbekistan investment. Earlier this year in the same probe, the US pursued seizing some $300m in accounts in Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg. Authorities think Gulnara Karimova is the beneficial owner of the $1bn they're seeking.