Accessibility links

Breaking News

Investigation Targets French-Kazakh Deals Under Sarkozy


Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy (left) with his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbaev in 2011.
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy (left) with his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbaev in 2011.

France has launched an investigation into suspected kickbacks over deals worth $2.5 billion reached by the French and Kazakh governments when Nicolas Sarkozy was president.

The "Le Monde" newspaper reported on October 7 that a formal investigation of suspected money laundering was opened in March last year.

This was confirmed to the Associated Press news agency by a Paris judge, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.

Preliminary charges of corruption and money laundering were filed last month against three people, including a lawyer for one of Sarkozy's aides at the time, the judge said.

Several deals, including the sale of 45 helicopters by French group Eurocopter, were signed during a Paris visit by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev in October 2010.

Based on reporting by lemonde.fr and AP

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG