Use of Russian star skiers: “They are in Putin’s pocket”

The ski equipment from Fischer, French Rossignol and Finnish background from Austrian French Rossignol and the Finnish background are flowing to Russia. Pasi Liesimaa

Aleksandr Bolšunov Skiing the French Rossignol on fresh skis. Natalia Neprjaeva introduces the Finnish background 4 -tanic rods. Daria Neprjayava is on foot in the Austrian Fischer new boots.

There are numerous examples on Instagram when Russian star athletes use sports equipment that they should not have due to EU sanctions.

The most wooden case is from February. Olympic gold medalist and now the leader of the Russian ski team Alexandr Legkov posing in front of Fischer’s advertising wall and bulging with the Austrian brand Speedmax. The product line came on the market for this season.

– This shows that sanctions policy is not waterproof. Visible athletes are very strongly committed Vladimir Putin to power – they are in Putin’s pocket, says a senior researcher specializing in Russia Jussi Lassila from the Institute of International Affairs.

Bulvia

Among other things, the EU has imposed an export ban on sports equipment in Russia because the country is in an offensive war in Ukraine.

In December 2023, the EU raised the east in December 2023. When selling products from the Union to a third country, their re -exports in Russia must be prohibited by agreement.

– Traditional logistical chains are blocked. EU export bans are primarily visible to the people. For this elitist group, which is the athletes in Putin’s pocket, there are channels to access Western products, says Lassila.

– Sure, it causes effort and increases costs, he adds.

Russia uses bulvia countries, such as Kazakhstan, Turkey and somewhat China.

– The EU has been toothless, and it is impossible to block exports directly to Russia. No sanctions can be created that Russia’s number one athletes would not receive Western products.

Money smells like

Western companies that seek as much profit are spreading their hands.

– They (the Russians) have bought the rods from the 4Caad International, which is a Chinese company. In Finland, Nordic Passion has 4Cad products for sale and a license to make products to Finland and Europe. In Finland, Nordic Passion has no share, announced the background influencer of 4Caad products Ulla Bennert For Iltalehti just over a year ago.

– According to my information, Rossignol has not delivered new skis to Bolshunov since the beginning of the war. He competes with less than three years old equipment, said Rossignol’s Finnish sales and instrument expert Tom Jakobsen For Iltalehti in February 2024.

Fischer did not respond to a recent request for interview with Iltalehti.

– Business logic is business logic. Everything is allowed, which is not specifically forbidden, researcher Lassila says.

-For example, immediately after the Russian major offensive, Finland’s exports to a Central Asian state grew by 400 percent, he adds.

Of course, the trade was made with Russia. Customs intervened. SK reported In May 2023, there will be about 400 pre-trial investigations in Finland to circumvent the Russian sanctions.

In the Soviet Union

Nationalist Putin is a “special operation” from the outset of the term replacement of imports.

– The truth is that the need for Western components has grown. Even if a new Russian tennis racket had been planned, it would be difficult to hit it through the country’s elite.

Russian athletes are on a collective competition and their own competitions have been created, but it is important for them to show up with Western equipment and go on training trips, for example in Italy.

– It is a contradictory and a sign of dual -moralism. Success in Russia has been very much copied in any area.

Instagram is forbidden in Russia, but almost all athletes in Putin’s pocket use a picture and video service.

– The situation is like the time of the Soviet Union: the rules are the same for everyone, but they do not apply to the elite.