The presiding judge of the Criminal Chamber announced the decision on Tuesday morning, according to the news agency SDA. He justified the discontinuation by stating that Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of Uzbekistan’s former president, is not permitted to leave the country before the statute of limitations expires. Karimova has been serving a prison sentence in her home country since 2014, which is set to run until December 2028. Uzbek authorities are refusing to allow her to leave the country before she has served her sentence.

The statute of limitations for the offences alleged by the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland—particularly money laundering, corruption, and participation in a criminal organization—will expire במהלך 2028. Under these circumstances, the court concluded that no verdict can be reached before the limitation period expires.

The Federal Criminal Court noted that Karimova’s assets could potentially be confiscated, according to SRF. This would require proof that the funds originate from criminal activity. Whether such proof can be established is expected to be clarified during the course of the proceedings.