Executives of Coke bottler leave Uzbekistan
after their boss separated from his wife

By Steve LEVINE and Betsy MCKAY Staff Reporters of The Wall Street Journal

(08/24/2001) - Three top managers of Coca-Cola's bottling franchise and an associated trading company in Uzbekistan have left the country amid a series of investigations that began after their boss -- the son-in-law of President Islam Karimov -- separated from his wife, a spokeswoman for the company's owner said.

Nickolas Evangelopoulas, general manager of Coca-Cola Bottlers Uzbekistan Ltd., left the capital Tashkent on Tuesday, according to Patrizia Zita, a public-relations executive who is a family friend of the son-in-law, Mansur Maqsudi. Mr. Maqsudi, president of the bottling company, referred questions to her. Umid Ismatullayev, Mr. Evangelopoulas's deputy, left at the beginning of last week, the bottling company said. The third man to leave is Mark Macdonald, general manager of Roz Trading Group Ltd., Ms. Zita said. The executives couldn't be reached for comment.

The Maqsudi family controls Roz Trading, which in turn owns a majority stake in the Coke bottler.

Ravshan Nazarkukov, an attache at the Uzbekistan embassy in Washington, said the embassy hadn't heard of the departures and declined to comment.

Soon after Mr. Maqsudi told friends and associates about his separation, the Uzbeki government launched a series of investigations at the bottler. The government has told foreign diplomats there is no connection between the investigations and the separation.

The outcome of the government inspection is unclear. Coca-Cola, which owns the balance of the bottling company but also keeps a separate corporate presence, said its office in Tashkent hasn't been disturbed by inspectors. A company delegation has been meeting with Uzbekistan officials this week in Tashkent.

http://www.eurasia.org.ru/2001/press_en/08_21_Cokemixingmarriage_eng.htm

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