Karimova Says Her Close Associate Arrested

In Uzbekistan, Gulnara Karimova says a close associate, Rustam Madumarov, has been arrested.

Karimova, the daughter of President Islam Karimov, wrote on Twitter, "As if nobody else is stealing, now they have arrested so-called most dangerous criminal -- the owner of Nirvana music store."

No other details are available.

Madumarov went missing after his successful Nirvana music store in Tashkent was raided by police last month.

Meanwhile, an official at Uzbekistan's Nongovernmental Television Network (NTT) told RFE/RL on November 11 the whereabouts of another Karimova associate, NTT director Firdavs Abduholiqov, are unknown amid allegations of financial misdeeds and after authorities suspended the NTT's license.

Last week, the Uzbek Prosecutor-General's Office launched a criminal case into the disappearance of former Karimova associate Nurmukhammad Sodiqov.

Officials said the probe would focus on charges of abduction and abuse of office, without elaborating.