Kahramonjon Olimov, the sole shareholder of Uzbekistan’s Anorbank, was kidnapped in Paris on June 23 by a group of men who later demanded a $10mn ransom, French daily Le Monde has reported.
According to the report, the 48-year-old businessman was abducted in an upscale neighborhood of the French capital. Three attackers reportedly restrained and strangled him before transporting him in a Mercedes van to a villa near Nice. There, Olimov was allegedly beaten and threatened with death.
One of the kidnappers was a former business associate of Olimov, who accused him of stealing his share in the bank. The perpetrators demanded $10mn in compensation. Olimov was released after he paid part of the requested sum and later made his way to a train station in Nice, from where he traveled back to Paris and alerted the police.
French authorities arrested one suspect — a Turkish national — on July 1. Olimov has since returned to Tashkent. He holds a 99.38% stake in Anorbank, according to public records.
In an official statement issued on July 2, Anorbank clarified that the incident was "personal, non-corporate in nature, and is not related to the bank's operational activities."
The bank emphasized that its operations remain stable, with all branches, services, and digital platforms functioning normally.
The bank also called on the media to respect the privacy of those involved and avoid spreading unverified information, noting that speculation could disrupt the official investigation.
"Anorbank expresses its sincere gratitude to all customers, partners, and colleagues who treated the information being disseminated with understanding and sympathy," the statement said.
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