New York Rangers star Artemi Panarin is saying goodbye to the team following a politically motivated article from Russia, in which his former head coach of Vityaz claims that the former forward of the club in Moscow beat an 18-year-old. girl in Riga, Latvia in 2011, The Post’s Larry Brooks reported Monday morning.
Andrei Nazarov, who is currently the head coach of Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk of the KHL, has repeatedly criticized Panarin for the forward’s outspoken belief in Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s regime. Nazarov is a well-known Putin supporter.
“Artemi vehemently and unequivocally denies all allegations in this fabricated story,” the Rangers said in a statement. ‘This is clearly an intimidation tactic used against him because he has been outspoken about recent political events. Artemi is obviously shaken and worried and will take some time away from the team. The Rangers fully support Artemi and will work with him to identify the source of these unfounded allegations.
In the ALhockey.ru article published on Monday, and translated by The Post, Nazarov gives a detailed version of December 11, 2011. The former Russian hockey player claims that after Vityaz lost 2-0 to Dynamo, in which Panarin did not ‘ had a great match, a then 19-year-old Panarin and other teammates were outside at a hotel bar when he ‘sent the 18-year-old citizen of Latvia to the floor with several powerful blows’.
Nazarov claims Panarin was detained by police before there was finally a criminal case and trial. But Nazarov claims that there was a bribe of 40,000 euros in cash to get Panarin off the hook.
Panarin’s grandparents still live in Russia, as well as a few other family members.
The 29-year-old resident of Korkino, Russia, has openly – and strongly – opposed Putin over the past few years. As recently as last month, Panarin showed his support for Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in an Instagram post ahead of the planned protests in Russia.
Panarin posted a photo of Navalny, a high-ranking critic of Putin, and his wife and two children, with a caption that translated to: ‘Freedom for Navalny’. The report is still on his page from Monday.
Navalny recently posted a message on his YouTube account to his fans: ‘Do not be afraid. Take the streets. Do not do it for me, do it for yourselves and for your future. ”
In July 2019, Panarin sat down for an interview with the Vsemu Golovin YouTube channel and met Putin. It was a bomb blast in which the finalist of the Heart Trophy in 2020 – barefoot in his living room in St. Petersburg – criticized Putin’s entire regime.
Panarin discussed Russian politics, economics, freedom of speech, and drew several unflattering comparisons from his homeland with the United States. He was also asked why he had supported Putin earlier.
‘Because I was never really interested in politics. Never read the news, ”reads a translation from SlavaDoesAmerica.com. ‘I was thoroughly focused on hockey and my progress … Besides, it’s not like I crossed the line [American] border and is immediately illuminated.
“It took me about two years before I thought, ‘Something’s wrong. [in Russia]. ‘I started to feel like I wanted to come back at the end of the summer [to America]. ”
Panarin’s public opposition to Putin is extremely remarkable, as it is an unprecedented event in Russia. Athletes in North America, such as LeBron James, Megan Rapinoe and many others, have had political conversations for years. Russian athletes are expected to show nothing but loyalty to their country, which makes Panarin’s attitude even more earthy.
By comparison, NHL co-star Alex Ovechkin formed an entire political movement called ‘Putin Team’ and sold Putin-themed goods until the 2018 presidential election. Other Russian-born players such as Evgeni Malkin, Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Kovalchuk expressed support for Putin himself or his politics.
The Blackhawks’ Nikita Zadorov gently supported Panarin and once commented on Panarin’s Instagram account with a ‘thumbs up’ and ‘fist’ emojis. Panarin and Zadorov had earlier criticized a Russian law that sought to give the government greater control over the internet, prompting the Russian embassy in the United States to issue an open letter to both NHLs.