A recent lobbying effort in the United States has cast a spotlight on the increasingly complex world of sanctions lobbying, particularly among business actors in Central Asia. The case revolves around an Uzbek businessman’s alleged attempt to use US political leverage to impose sanctions on a rival company in Uzbekistan, offering a rare glimpse into the murky practices surrounding international sanctions and business rivalries.

At the heart of the story is Stephen Payne, a former aide to President George W. Bush and a top partner in Texas-based lobbying firm Linden Strategies. Payne’s firm was hired by Uktam Aripov, a little-known Canada-based entrepreneur, to lobby for US sanctions against a major Uzbek cement company, the United Cement Group (UCG). The firm, owned by prominent Uzbek businessman Ulugbek Shadmanov, has been a key player in Central Asia’s cement industry, and its business interests have allegedly clashed with Aripov’s. Payne’s involvement in the lobbying campaign raises questions about the growing trend of using sanctions as a tool for business and political influence.

According to Payne, his firm was hired to brief US Congressman Wesley Hunt, a Texas Republican, on possible sanctions violations by UCG. The lobbying effort focused on UCG’s alleged connections to Russia, particularly concerning the company’s 2022 acquisition of a state-owned cement plant in Uzbekistan. Payne asserts that his firm did not directly urge any specific action but instead provided Congressman Hunt with information that could potentially lead to further investigation into UCG’s activities.

Rep. Hunt, who has been vocal about his concerns over US sanctions enforcement, particularly in former Soviet republics like Uzbekistan, took the matter to the House floor in March 2024. He warned that the US focus on Russian assets in Europe may have overlooked key entities in Central Asia, including UCG. In a speech, Hunt specifically referenced the cement company, without elaborating further. He also........

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