Are Russian connections putting Helsinki dates at risk?

The BBC report that scheduled performances at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki by Miley Cyrus, Justin Timberlake, Nine Inch Nails and Aerosmith may be cancelled, due to US sanctions against Russia. The Finnish venue is part owned by Gennady Timchenko and brothers Arkady and Boris Rotenberg, all of whom appear on a list of "members of the Russian leadership's inner circle" who are in the US Treasury list of 27 of those closely linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and subject to sanctions in response to Russia's intervention in the Crimea.

Industry insiders have said that the BBC's report is probably inaccurate and that it's 'business as normal' at the Hartwall Areena as the contentious ownership is below the 50% threshold needed for sanctions.

Photo by Indrek Galetin