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Lars Nyberg has resigned as CEO of TeliaSonera after an investigation revealed questions about its partner in Uzbekistan
TeliaSonera CEO Lars Nyberg has resigned immediately after a report commissioned by the board criticised the company over its relationship with its business partner in Ucell, its Uzbekistan mobile operator. TeliaSonera owns 94% of Ucell through its subsidiary Fintur Holdings.
The company's CFO, Per-Arne Blomquist, has taken over as acting president and CEO.
A report by Swedish Television in September 2012 alleged that Telia Sonera paid $320 million for its Uzbekistan licences through Gayane Avakyan, a person described as having "close ties" to Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of Uzbek president Islam Karimov.
After the allegations emerged, TeliaSonera commissioned law firm Mannheimer Swartling to investigate. When asked by a Swedish radio station in September what he would do if the allegations were true, Nyberg is reported to...