Anders Besseberg found guilty of nine counts of serious corruption. The 78-year-old Norwegian is the former boss of the World Biathlon Federation IBU.
He was sentenced to three years and one month in prison. He also has to return gifts worth 1.4 million Norwegian krone (NOK) – around 120,000 euros. The judge also noted: “It can be proven beyond a doubt that he used sexual services even though he knew that they were sent by Kushchenko or the organizer” Besseburg is said to have met and had sexual intercourse with a Russian woman between 2016 and 2018. Several telephone conversations were intercepted between him and the Russian biathlon director Yevgeny Redevkin. He is also accused of accepting watches and services from Russian officials, among others. The Norwegian was also convicted of hunting trips to Russia in 2013, 2015 and 2018 and has been ordered to return the gifts he received to the public prosecutor's office. He filed an appeal on the spot.