Nordic operator group TeliaSonera is working with lawyers to investigate whether the allocation of its 3G licence in Uzbekistan in 2007 was subject to any wrongdoing, reports Reuters.

The corruption allegations were aired on Swedish television with TeliaSonera said to have bought its Uzbek 3G licence from a firm that reportedly has close ties with the daughter of Uzbek president Islam Karimov.

TeliaSonera has denied any wrongdoing and appointed law firm Mannheimer Swartling to determine whether the licence purchase “involved any form of corruption or money laundering”.

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt welcomed the part state-owned company’s action on the matter. Prosecutors in Sweden have already launched a preliminary investigation into the deal which cost TeliaSonera SEK2.3 billion (US$348 million).

TeliaSonera was criticised by the Swedish state and other shareholders after it allowed authorities in Azerbaijan, Belarus and Uzbekistan to access its networks to monitor the activities of anti-government activists.

The company has also appointed the former Swedish ambassador to Russia, Tomas Bertelman, as a strategic advisor regarding its operations in central Asia.

Russian operator group MTS recently had its operating licence cancelled and assets confiscated by the Uzbek government, ostensibly for non-payment of taxes and licence violation.