"Cheapskates! Speculators!" Russian Olympic champion throws a tantrum over accusations of bribing head of international federation

Olympic champion Oleksandr Tykhonov threw a real tantrum after being accused of bribing former International Biathlon Union (IBU) President Andres Besseberg, who headed the organization from 2009 to 2018 and lobbied for Russia's interests. In Norway, a trial on corruption charges has begun against the official, during which he testified against a representative of the Russian Federation.

In a commentary to Sport24, Tikhonov, who was IBU vice president for seven years, called Besseberg's words that he received jewelry and watches from the Russian a lie. The former biathlete also spoke insultingly about former IBU Secretary General Nicole Resch, whom he also gave gifts to, according to the former head of the IBU.

"Only Putin probably didn't ask me about Besseberg. I called this Nicole Resch a fascist. She hated Russia. When I came in, she did not greet me in silence. They announced a boycott against me when I was the first vice president. Well, what kind of box? There was a box that I bought as a gift for my wife, Mashenka. I showed it to them on purpose so that they would click their teeth. They had nothing else to say. I've never given them anything! Why should I give them anything? For the corruption that Besseberg has created? They are miserly and speculative," Tikhonov said.

Interestingly, in the early 2000s, he was found guilty of organizing an assassination attempt on the governor of the Kemerovo region, Aman Tuleyev. He hid from Russian justice for four years in Austria, and in 2007 was sentenced to three years, but was released in the courtroom under an amnesty announced in honor of the 55th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany.

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