The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) published The Pandora Papers on October 3, which leaked about 11.9 million documents (nearly 3 terabytes) from 14 offshore registrars.

The documents names of more than 60 people associated with Uzbekistan. In social networks, they drew attention to the fact that among them are Nodira Umurzakova and Marlen Azizov, the wife and father-in-law of the Deputy PM/Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, Sardor Umurzakov.

Nodira Umurzakova (as of January 23, 2020, not employed) is said to be the ultimate beneficial owner of Aslett Investments, registered in January 2014 in the British Virgin Islands.

According to the Orginfo.uz, the Deputy PM’s wife and the company do not own shares in local companies.

Another ultimate beneficial owner of Aslett Investments is Marlen Azizov, Umurzakova's father.

Marlen Azizov, who at one time worked as the general director of the Chinaz House-Building Plant, is also listed as the beneficiary of Zarubezhvodstroy, Alastor International, Coribridge International, Cannonford International and Hartswood Estates, registered in the British Virgin Islands between 2012 and 2016.

MIFT’s commentary

The press service of the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade reported that Marlen Azizov "had been doing business in various fields since the beginning of the 90s - in the Russian Federation and a number of European countries."

"N. Umurzakova, the daughter of M. Azizov, has never been involved in business and has not been the owner or beneficiary of any assets or property abroad. The presence of her name in the Pandora Papers can be explained by the erroneous indication of her as a member of the M. Azizov family. The reasons for this inaccuracy are currently being investigated.

As reported earlier the list also includes Rano Ramatova, the wife of First Deputy PM Achilbay Ramatov. She called this information "false and untrue."

The other day, the editor-in-chief of Rost24, Anora Sadikova, said that she had to delete an article about another Uzbek in the Pandora Papers, businessman Jakhongir Usmanov, “because of threats and pressure.”