(Telecompaper) Vimpelcom announced it will take a provision of USD 900 million to cover potential liabilities in the investigation into its Uzbekistan activities. Vimpelcom said it was still in talks with the authorities on resolving the case and there was no assurance as to the final cost to the company. The Securities and Exchange Commission and Department of Justice in the US where Vimpelcom is listed and the Public Prosecutor (Openbaar Ministerie) of the Netherlands where Vimpelcom is based are investigating how Vimpelcom obtained its operating licence in Uzbekistan. The company is suspected of paying bribes to a close relative of Uzbek president Islam Karimov, in exchange for access to Uzbekistan's telecommunications market. Vimpelcom has been in talks with the authorities on settling case since early this year.