Swedish telco TeliaSonera is under investigation from Swedish anti-corruption authorities regarding the purchase of its Uzbek business in 2007, reports Reuters. As previously reported by CommsUpdate, the telco was accused in a Swedish documentary programme of paying bribes, having purchased its operating licence from a firm believed to have close ties with Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of Uzbek President Islam Karimov. The Swedish government, which holds a 37.3% stake in TeliaSonera, criticised the telco for its dealings with the Karimov regime – infamous for its corruption and human rights violations – calling for the company to restore its credibility.
TeliaSonera said in a statement ‘We can confirm that the Swedish police have collected information from TeliaSonera regarding Uzbekistan,’ adding that ‘the anti-corruption unit of the Swedish Prosecuting Authorities have now initiated an investigation, which we welcome.’ The telco is also conducting its own internal investigation into the allegations.