Golden Visa Holder and CEO of a cement production giant, Ulugbek Shadmanov, was unlawfully extradited from the UAE yesterday with no judicial process.
United Cement Group is the largest industrial holding company in central Asia, employing more than 7000 people, leaving its CEO the target of individuals and groups who seek to appropriate it. Ulugbek Shadmanov had successfully fought off a smear campaign led by corrupt businessmen and their US lobbyists.
Shadmanov lived in Dubai where he managed his companies under the protection of the UAE Golden Visa, but all that came to an end yesterday when he was flown in handcuffs to Uzbekistan.
Shadmanov was surrounded by over a dozen armed Emirati special forces agents during a meeting with his US attorney at his estate in Dubai. He had committed no crime, was not a threat to society or security but was treated like a crime boss, denied access to his lawyers and to any form of judicial proceeding. After a traumatic experience, his US attorney was quickly unshackled and told to quietly leave the country.
Shadmanov was not heard from again. His lawyers tried to gain access but Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai and IPEX Reform, says “once authorities brand someone a security department issue, there is little a lawyer can do. When an extradition request is made, UAE law requires the matter be heard by the courts where the individual is given the opportunity to contest the request. The courts must deny extradition where that person faces serious human rights risks or if the action is politically motivated. Ulugbek Shadmanov was given no such chance.
“We saw how upset South Africa was over the Gupta Brothers, Ireland and the US over the Kinihan’s and the hoops Denmark had to jump through to extradite Sanjay Shah. In those cases, the UAE portrayed that it had an internationally recognised rule of law, dismissing the lobbying attempts of these countries. So why was Dubai suspiciously keen to hand over a well respected businessman to Uzbekistan with zero legal process whatsoever?
“Ulugbek Shadmanov is wanted by Uzbekistan for his assets. The country has an extremely poor human rights record with forced confessions, torture, human rights abuses and corruption. Shadmanov’s family fear for his life.
“The UAE portrays itself to investors as safe, but if a country can force someone onto a plane without so much as a basic court hearing, nobody is safe. The secretive manner in which this took place is cause for serious concern. The Uzbek players who were targeting Shadmanov had paid substantial sums to US lobbyists. They held close relations with lobbyist Steve Payne, Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo & Former U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry who also have long standing tight-knit relations with the UAE government.
“It’s highly concerning to see the illegal extradition of a successful businessman, husband and father from Dubai, but it is of particular concern that those targeting him had paid influential Americans to assist in their pursuit. Shadmanov’s team are investigating the extent of the skullduggery and violations of US, UAE and international law. It's important to know whether any US citizens were involved in this illegal extradition, as they were in the 2018 abduction of Princess Latifa”.
