NHL defenseman Nikita Zadorov is unlikely to return to Russia after his comments, says researcher Markku Jokisipilä.
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Russian defenseman of NHL club Calgary Flames Nikita Zadorov28, criticized the war of aggression waged by Russia and the current state of his home country, journalist and broadcaster Yuri Dudin published on Thursday In a YouTube interview.
– I feel sorry for the young people. Instead of raising a new generation, we send them to die, Zadorov said.
The video had been viewed 2.6 million times on Monday.
The parents of Zadorov, who moved to North America for the 2012-2013 season, support Putin’s regime, but he has not visited Russia since the start of the war or represented the national team where he played, for example, in the 2021 World Cup.
– It’s nauseating. Would I go to a restaurant in Moscow when people are being bombed in Ukraine? I can’t go there, I feel ashamed, Zadorov said.
– The 23 years that Putin has been in power, and the nine years before him… I hope that all this will end and that Russia will become a democratic country with a strong economy instead of a robbery economy.
What makes Zadorov’s exit particularly extraordinary?
Investigator Markku Jokisipilä specializes in why sport has been such an important tool for Putin in the exercise of power. He considers Zadorov’s performance exceptional for a Russian athlete.
– Only a few have heard such direct criticism and harsh speech. Not many people have wanted to take that personal risk, says Jokisipilä.
Zadorov’s words can be considered very significant even compared to other well-known Putin critics. Jokisipilä drew attention especially to Zadorov’s comments about sending young people to die.
– This is an exceptional speech considering all sectors of society. It is among the most visible critical statements. Especially for those who follow sports, this is a very meaningful outlet, Jokisipilä explains.
Zadorov said on Friday that he received a lot of feedback from the interview, which was mostly positive.
– Many young people think the same as me. They just don’t have the opportunity to talk like I do. I hope they can now feel that I am there for them, Zadorov said.
According to Jokisipilä, the new outlet can change Zadorov’s position in Russia.
– The Russian sports world has been Putin’s staunchest supporters for the past 20 years. Such a text will undoubtedly be painful for the Kremlin. Zadorov is clearly not going back to Russia right away, nor should he, Jokisipilä points out.
The decision put the NHL in a difficult position
Anti-war outings by Russian NHL players have been rare. Zadorov told Dudi in an interview that a joint statement was nevertheless planned in the early days of the offensive war Florida goalkeeper Sergei Bobrovsky under.
The players were divided into two groups, some supporting Russian propaganda and others opposing it. In the end, no common position was reached. Zadorov did not say which players were involved in the conversation.
In the early days of the war, Zadorov himself took a stand on Instagram, where he shared a photo that read “no war”. He hoped that his publication would make Russians change their minds about the war.
For example, the Washington Capitals superstar Alexander Ovechkin is known for his pro-Putin. The NHL has distanced itself from Russia’s war of aggression, and Ovechkin’s actions have not been condemned.
Zadorov’s exit also puts pressure on the NHL.
– I hope the league will think about the fact that they should also support those players who think differently from Ovetški, says Jokisipilä.