The former head of the IIHF, the Swiss René Fasel, received the citizenship of the Russian Federation

The former president of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), Swiss René Fazel, received Russian citizenship, The Insider reports.

The publication notes that together with a Russian passport, Fazel acquired 54% of the shares of the Alma Holding company, the co-owner of which is a businessman close to Vladimir Putin, Gennady Timchenko. “Alma Holding” is engaged in the cultivation of apples in the Krasnodar region.

Rene Fasel headed the IIHF from 1994 to 2021. In addition, all this time he was a member of the International Olympic Committee, and from 2008 to 2016 he was a member of the IOC Executive Committee.

During the era of Fazel’s rule, Russia received the right to host the World Ice Hockey Championship three times, and once, for the first time in its history, the Winter Olympics. While in his post, Fazel repeatedly spoke in a complimentary manner about Vladimir Putin and met with him in an informal setting. In May 2021, after the world hockey championship was moved from Belarus due to the brutal suppression of mass protests, the Swiss spoke out in support of Alexander Lukashenko.

Fasel’s family was repeatedly suspected of corruption – in particular, of receiving a bribe of 400,000 francs for the victory of one of the companies in the tender for the realization of the rights to telecast the world hockey championships. The official himself denies all the charges.