Nikita Zadorov of the Calgary Flames has no regrets.
According to Nikita Zadorov, he has read a lot about politics and listened to a lot of experts. AOP / USA TODAY SPORTS
Earlier this week, a bold move was seen when Calgary Flames Russian defenseman Nikita Zadorov downloaded direct words about Russia and Vladimir Putin from a Russian journalist Yuri Dudinin in the interview.
Zadorov said that Russia sends young people to their deaths and said that he could not sit in a restaurant in Moscow because he was so ashamed of the war.
Those who have spoken out against the Russian regime have often been subjected to repression in their home country.
Zadorov told to Sportsnet that he knowsthat his words have consequences.
– I probably won’t be able to return to Russia. Not as long as the current administration is there. I will only return when Putin is no longer president. Florida is my home now, Zadorov said after practice on Friday.
Zadorov’s parents still live in Russia and do not share their son’s views. There are no other relatives in the country.
– My parents disagree, Zadorov revealed.
He still doesn’t regret his words.
According to the big defender, it is more important that he spoke openly.
– It’s just deep down what’s happening there at the moment. It’s important to talk about these out loud.
Lots of messages
Zadorov said that he received a lot of private messages after his interview. They have come from Russians, Ukrainians, Finns and Swedes.
According to him, all messages have been positive.
– I know that the Russian bot system takes two or three days to send negative messages. I’m waiting for them to appear on my pages too.
Zadorov confirmed to Sportsnet that the Russian players split into two different camps after the war expanded to 2022. Some were against the Putin regime, others were on its side.
Zadorov told Dudin that he did not want to reveal names that were on Putin’s side.
– I can say that many young people think like me, he said.