Artemy Panarin denies any accusations "contained in the fabricated story" that he beat an 18-year-old girl in Riga in 2011.
This statement was made by the New York Rangers hockey club on Monday evening, a day after the publication of a scandalous interview with the former Russian coach Andrei Nazarov.
“Artemy is shocked and worried.
He will temporarily leave the location of the team.
The club fully supports Artemy and will work with him to identify the source of these unfounded allegations, "Rangers' official Twitter said.
Judging by the information of the American media, the NHL also took the side of the athlete in this situation.
Local journalist Dan Rosen posted a league statement on his social media stating that the NHL supports Panarin and his club and continues to follow developments.
Earlier, another local correspondent, Larry Brooks, said that Artemy would not be playing for the Rangers anytime soon.
The famous Russian hockey journalist Pavel Lysenkov wrote about this in his Telegram channel.
In his opinion, the situation can go both according to a pessimistic scenario for an athlete, and according to an optimistic one.
The first one allegedly involves the termination of the contract and the forced departure to Russia.
The second involves leaving the striker on temporary leave at his own expense until the club makes an official statement.
Apparently, it is according to this scenario that events are developing.
The Rangers are a very scrupulous club that looks after their reputation carefully.
It is important for them that the "Voinov-2 case" does not happen.
Panarin is their best player, they need him.
Now it is important to protect Artemy in this story so that the team does not lose him, ”Lysenkov explained.
Panarin played the last game in the NHL just recently - on February 20.
The Russian team confidently beat the Washington Capitals - 4: 1, and he himself gave two assists.
In total, this season, he has 18 points for performance in 14 matches.
"Our striker sent the girl to the floor with several powerful punches."
Earlier, Nazarov spoke about a scandal a decade ago, in which a very young Panarin allegedly fell.
According to him, after being defeated by Riga Dynamo on December 11 away in the KHL regular championship match, the talented striker, along with several legionnaires, went to “relax”.
“Walked in the bar of the Radisson Hotel.
Moreover, during the evening rest, he somehow did not like the young visitor of the institution.
Our striker sent an 18-year-old citizen of Latvia to the floor with several powerful blows.
Is the reason known?
It's hard to say now.
After beating the girl, he hurried to the room.
And he asked to bring his teammate Misha Anisin, who, unlike Artemy, ordered only juice at the bar.
But the police arrived quickly.
Panarin was detained.
They drew up a protocol, ”the specialist said in an interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda.
According to Nazarov, Artemy was threatened with a real prison term, but “respected residents of Riga” stood up for him, who demanded € 40,000 in cash for their help.
The case was eventually hushed up.
“We didn’t even apologize to the parents of the girl who suffered from Panarin.
But they did everything to prevent our rising star from thundering into jail.
Didn't ruin a career.
In his life, there would be no NHL with 100 million from the Rangers, no beautiful wife in one of the richest cities in the world.
After serving a few years, I would have worked as a taxi driver or would now work at a gas station in the city of Chekhov ... But it’s clear that we were wrong then.
Artemy did not deserve to be saved from punishment by the whole world for hitting a girl, ”the coach added.
Also, the ex-mentor of "Vityaz" spoke about cases of theft by Panarin from "teammates in the children's team" and "readiness to raise a hand against the weak."
In Latvia, information about Panarin's beating of a girl in 2011 has already been refuted.
Local journalist Aivis Kalninsh, referring to a representative of the hotel, in whose bar the incident was supposedly possible, and other sources said that nothing of the kind happened in the establishment at that time.
According to RB-Sport, the conflict between Panarin and the girl still occurred that day, but Nazarov exaggerated its scale.
It is alleged that the hockey player invited the bar guest to dance, but she refused, after which a quarrel occurred.
The police did indeed arrive at the scene, but quickly left it, and no one needed the help of doctors.
"If a crime happened, Panarin will be held accountable ..."
Nazarov's words caused a serious resonance in the Russian hockey community.
Some experts urged the public not to rush to conclusions, while others, on the contrary, condemned Artemiy and stressed that such behavior, even from the side of the NHL star, cannot be ignored.
In turn, Stanley Cup winner Valery Kamensky, who played a lot overseas, told what consequences this story could have for Panarin.
“According to Nazarov, everything happened in 2011, and not right now.
And, to be honest, I've never been in such situations, so I don't know how the NHL leadership can react to this.
Yes, everyone remembers the story of Vyacheslav Voinov, who was accused of domestic violence.
But then everything happened in hot pursuit, and then ten years passed.
You never know what was there?
Panarin didn't even play in the NHL then.
It is in the league that their hockey players are already closely monitored.
It is difficult to say how Artemy can be punished, ”Kamensky said in an interview with RT.
And the world champion Alexander Volchkov was horrified by the very fact of this scandal.
“Of course, first of all, questions should be asked to the direct participants in the events.
In my opinion, it's just the hell is going on.
What details do not surface after years ... Unfortunately, both in the world in general and in sports in particular, today inhuman relations reign.
You need to ask Nazarov what goals he pursued by telling this story.
Maybe this is how he wants to find a job? "
- suggested the expert in an interview with RT.
On the contrary, two-time Olympic champion Alexander Kozhevnikov took the coach's side in this situation.
He called Nazarov "not a stupid person" and suggested that he was simply sore over the years of silence.
“I also have complaints against Panarin.
I have not seen life, but begins to philosophize, although not nearly Nietzsche.
Artemy is a great player, but this does not mean that he should give us recommendations on how to live, "the Championship quotes Kozhevnikov.
And the former head coach of the Russian national team, Vladimir Plyushchev, suggested that because of this scandal, the striker could have serious troubles in the NHL, since overseas they are very attentive to the image of their hockey players.
“Panarin's vacation is connected with this story.
In America, people are very scrupulous, they value their image.
I do not understand why they, on all issues, if someone says something, they immediately begin to "inflate" ... I do not quite understand this situation.
Perhaps they took a break there to find out the details.
But I think, if the situation is confirmed, Artemy may have problems.
What kind?
I do not know what they will do, ”the specialist noted.
In turn, Dmitry Svishchev, a deputy of the State Duma and President of the Russian Curling Federation, stressed that athletes in the country should in no case be untouchable, no matter how high their status would be.
“We just recently witnessed when everything ended with criminal punishment.
We see how events developed in the USA, where our famous hockey player was convicted (Vyacheslav Voinov -
RT
).
If the crime occurred on the territory of the Russian Federation, then Panarin will be held liable under Russian law, if in Latvia - under Latvian law.
But for this, someone has to write a statement.
Nazarov, if he knows everything and has been silent for so much, is obliged to do it.
Another thing is interesting: why does he start talking about it only now?
If Nazarov spreads rumors about Panarin, he should be punished for this, ”Svishchev summed up.