The Jokers have made huge financial losses at KHL, and two years ago the events in Belarus raised questions about playing in the Eastern League. Now the war started by Russia in Ukraine has created a situation where returning to the series next autumn will be difficult – if not impossible.
A lot it would not be possible to go any further from the idea that was uttered before the KHL journey began.
When the Jokerit was moving to the Eastern League in 2014, the then-elected CEO said Jukka Kohonen out loud thought “Of the Jokers of the whole nation.” The same idea was already mentioned Roman Rotenbergwho was one of the owners at the beginning of the KHL journey.
On Friday morning, the Jokers told their owners Jari Kurrin at the mouth to withdraw from the playoffs. At that point, there were at most crumbs left to support the team.
When Russia began hostilities in Ukraine early on Thursday, even the most loyal partners began to feel the Joker as a burden and terminated cooperation. Even before that, the support group Eteläpääty had demanded that the club withdraw from the entire KHL.
Although the Jokers play in Helsinki, the funding comes from Russia.
Russia’s presence was also sensed in a press release about the withdrawal, which said it was impossible to continue the period in the “current world situation”.
It was not mentioned in a word that the current world situation was shaken by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Jokers play in Helsinki, but the team’s funding comes from Russia.
Jokers The journey towards KHL began in the summer of 2013. The transition from the League to KHL was announced at the end of June.
51 percent of the Jokers were left in the deal To Harry Harkimolle49 percent moved Gennady Timtchenko and Roman Rotenberg. Both the Tymoshenko and Rotenberg families are known to belong to the Russian president Vladimir Putin related parties.
Due to the transfer, the Jokers had to pay compensation to the League clubs for breach of contract. Kalervo Kummolan biography the amount was said to be three million euros.
At KHL, the economic equation of gaming began to dawn rapidly as financial results were released.
HS: n The monthly supplement reported in September 2018, that a loss of EUR 43.5 million had accumulated during the KHL visit starting in the period 2014–15 and that the previous financial statements had not yet been made. So the figures were for only three periods.
Jari Kurri, the main owner and chairman of the jokers.
In the spring of 2019 the club moved Jari Kurrin ownership. Harkimo first bought Timtchenko’s and Rotenberg’s stake and then sold the Joker in its entirety to Kurr.
“In the deal, we got the people on the sanctions list off,” said Harkimo at a news conference.
“Thank you to them. They also thought the best of the Jokers. The club was completely transferred to Finnish ownership. ”
Already in the summer, 40 percent of Kurr’s share was sold to Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta oy. At the same time, it meant the emergence of a new Russian oligarch as a financier in the background.
The buyer was also estimated to be the richest man in Russia Vladimir Potaninwho spoke in an interview with HS in 2020 about the value of the contract.
“A seven million contract, but we are ready to make up for the budget deficit after the Jokers have lost revenue this year due to the corona epidemic. I am committed to supporting the Jokers for a long time, ”Potanin said.
Criticism The Joker’s participation in KHL began to grow strongly in the fall of 2020. At that time, the Joker was scheduled to open a season in Minsk, Belarus, where a popular uprising was still going on.
The people walked down the street to resist Alexander Lukashenko, which won the fraudulent presidential election. The people wanted to overthrow Lukashenko’s dictatorship.
As the journey approached, the Joker’s camp was heard derogatory statements. For example, the then Minister of Culture Annika Saarikko asked the Jokers for consideration and supporters gave their support to the transfer.
Eventually The Jokers did not leave, even though I had time to travel to the airport. Russia began to consider after the incident whether KHL needs Jokers.
“This is wrong and unpleasant. The Finns indicated that the chairman of KHL had no control over anything. There should be some kind of corporate solidarity. Our neighbors did bad things, you can’t get anywhere, ”wrote a journalist from Sport-Ekspress Alexei Shevchenko.
Joker fans at the south end in a match against Dinamo Minsk in 2014.
Last in December, the Jokers had another trip to Minsk. This time the Jokers left, but Finnair, which normally flew the team, did not fly to Belarus, but the Jokers had to get their flights from Russia.
Before the match, the joker boss Kurri commented that the situation has calmed down and there is no reason to prevent him from leaving. In Finland, the statement received strong criticism from the Secretary General of the Finnish League for Human Rights From Kaari Mattilawhich said the situation in Belarus had deteriorated.
“The human rights situation is very poor and it seems that the Lukashenko administration is doing its utmost to silence critical civil society,” Mattila said.
Even just below the Russian hostilities that began on Thursday, the Jokerit appealed to their binding agreements. The sound on the clock changed as the attacks began. The first insider information about the departure of the Jokers came on Thursday, confirmation on Friday.
So far, the Jokers have only announced a missed playoff. It is still a noteworthy option that the Jokers have played their last match at KHL. The situation should calm down quickly so that the club can return to participating in rehearsals for the next season in the summer.
Jokers Iiro Pakarinen and Dinamo Minsk’s Lukas Bengtsson in a duel in the KHL hockey match in December 2021.
Foreign policy senior researcher at the institute Matti Pesu notes that the situation with regard to Russia’s image is hardly different in the autumn. He says Russia’s actions are pushing itself into the position of a stretcher in the eyes of the West. Paaria is a name used for casteless people in India.
“Obviously, KHL also has a political role to play, and it is a Russian soft power project. I don’t know if getting involved will be any easier. There is quite a lot of public pressure in the background, ”says Pesu.
“It depends on what the situation is in Ukraine then, but presumably it’s pretty serious. Participating would give public attention and judgment, ”says Pesu.
The KHL League itself also has its own spoon in the soup. There is so far a lot of critical publicity on offer through the jokers. It can contribute to the series ’desire to keep the Jokers involved.
Joker captain Marko Anttila jumping into the trough.
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