Uzbek businessman added to EU “blacklist”

Uzbek entrepreneur Rustam Muminov has been included in the European Union’s 19th sanctions package. His name appears in the official list published by the EU.

According to EU information, Muminov continues to control the Fergana Chemical Plant. The EU statement notes that the plant supplied cotton cellulose to the Perm Powder Plant and the Kazan State Powder Plant, which produce materials used by the Russian armed forces.

“Rustam Muminov controls the Fergana Chemical Plant located in Uzbekistan. The plant supplied cotton cellulose to the Perm Powder Plant and the Kazan State Powder Plant. These enterprises have supplied products to the Russian Armed Forces. Therefore, Rustam Muminov is supporting Russia’s military-industrial complex,” the document states.

The document also notes that Muminov was born in 1965 and holds citizenship of Uzbekistan, Russia and the United Kingdom.

For reference, the Fergana Chemical Plant was registered on 3 August 2012. It produces pulp and cellulose, with an authorized capital of 51.1 billion soums (approximately 4 million US dollars). Its founder is Mercury Renaissance, and its director is Sergey Sabirov.

Mercury Renaissance, a limited liability company located in Tashkent’s Yakkasaroy district, was registered on 11 April 2016. According to official documents, in May of this year Rustam Rakhimjonovich Muminov owned 60 percent of the company.

It should be noted that in May Ukraine imposed sanctions on three Uzbek companies—Khomaşyo Cellulose, Mercury Renaissance, and the Fergana Chemical Plant—on suspicion of supplying dual-use products to Russia’s military-industrial complex. Ukraine also imposed personal sanctions on Rustam Muminov.

Earlier, it was reported that the European Union had begun preparing its next, 20th, sanctions package in response to Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine.