Telecommunications. United Arab Emirates
VEON Ltd.
On 18 February 2016 the US Department of Justice announced that VimpelCom entered a deferred prosecution agreement and that its Uzbek subsidiary Unitel pleaded guilty to an FCPA bribery conspiracyS1. DOJ said US and Dutch penalties totalled US$795,326,398.40 and that the companies paid more than US$114 million in bribes to an Uzbek government officialS1. VimpelCom agreed to a three year monitorS1. VEON said on 31 October 2019 that the DPA had concluded and that DOJ moved to dismiss the deferred chargesS2. In November 2022 OFAC issued General License 54 for trading in certain VEON securitiesS5. VEON said in 2023 it had not been targeted by US, EU or UK sanctionsS3S4.
- Also known as
- VimpelCom Ltd., VimpelCom, Unitel LLC (former subsidiary)
- Headquarters
- United Arab Emirates
- Records from
- United States, Netherlands
- Current status
- VEON Ltd. is an operating telecommunications group listed on Nasdaq. It said on 19 December 2024 that it had completed the move of its group headquarters from Amsterdam to DubaiS6. It said its 2016 DPA with the US Department of Justice concluded on 31 October 2019 after its monitor certified its compliance programmeS2.
Scope. This record covers VEON Ltd., formerly VimpelCom Ltd., and its former Uzbek unit Unitel LLC. It does not cover the Russian operator PJSC VimpelCom after its sale, any shareholder, or the separate Uzbekistan cases against Telia and MTS. VEON was headquartered in Amsterdam until 2024S4S6.
Claims assessed
3 claims. Scores grade the evidence for each claim, not the organization.- Supported93The US Department of Justice said on 18 February 2016 that VimpelCom and Unitel would pay more than US$795 million in US and Dutch penalties over bribes paid in Uzbekistan.Regulator statement, 18 February 20164 records citedBribery
- Outdated77DOJ said in February 2016 that VimpelCom must retain a compliance monitor for three years.Regulator statement, 18 February 20163 records citedCorporate status
- Partly supported66VEON said in September 2023 that it had not been targeted by US, EU or UK sanctions at any point since February 2022.Company statement, 5 September 20234 records citedSanctions
Cases and proceedings
- United States v. VimpelCom Ltd. and United States v. Unitel LLCUS Department of Justice and US District Court for the Southern District of New York. Criminal. Not published.Stage: DPA concluded and motion to dismiss deferred charges filed, per VEONS2
Responses on record
- VEON Ltd., 31 October 2019, on DOJ said in February 2016 that VimpelCom must retain a compliance monitor for three years....
VEON's chair and CEO called the end of the DPA a significant milestone for the company.S2
- VEON Ltd., 5 September 2023, on VEON said in September 2023 that it had not been targeted by US, EU or UK sanctions at any...
VEON said brokers had declined some buy orders and that it was not a sanctioned entity.S4
Revision history
- Profile and 3 assessments first published. Records checked to 25 October 2026.
Source records
- S1Tier A VimpelCom Limited and Unitel LLC Enter into Global Foreign Bribery Resolution of More Than $795 MillionUS Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs. Regulator press release. 18 February 2016.Supports the DPA, the Unitel plea, the amounts, the admitted conduct and the monitor term. It gives no docket number.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S2Tier B 2016 Deferred Prosecution Agreement concludes as monitor certifies VEON's compliance programmeVEON Ltd., Form 6-K filed with the SEC. Company filing. 31 October 2019.Company account of the end of the DPA and monitorship and of the DOJ dismissal motion.
- S4Tier B CEO Letter to Investors: VEON confirms unhindered trading, offers support to investorsVEON Ltd.. Company statement. 5 September 2023.Company statement that it has not been targeted by sanctions. It is not an official sanctions record.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S6Tier B VEON Completes the Move of its Headquarters to DubaiVEON Ltd., Form 6-K exhibit filed with the SEC. Company filing. 19 December 2024.Company account of the move of its group headquarters from Amsterdam to Dubai. It does not concern the bribery case.
- S5Tier A General License No. 54, Authorizing Certain Transactions Involving VEON Ltd.US Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control. Regulator order. 18 November 2022.Authorises dealings in VEON securities issued before 6 June 2022 that E.O. 14071 would otherwise bar. It does not designate VEON.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S3Tier B Green light from US Treasury for VEON Ltd. Equity tradingVEON Ltd.. Company statement. 18 November 2022.Company account of OFAC General License 54. It does not state VEON's listing status.Link working, checked 25 October 2026