“I continue to study with a speech therapist”: Solovyov on the consequences of beating, mercy for criminals and help from loved ones

- You took part in several court hearings on the fact of the December attack, spent a long time in the hospital, and suddenly - the information that the parties reconciled, and the court dismissed the criminal case.

In connection with what did this happen?

- Initially, I want to clarify that this did not happen now, but almost four months ago - I don’t know why quite old information suddenly surfaced again.

From the very beginning, I didn’t want to discuss all this with anyone outside the framework of justice: firstly, in the hospital I was simply not able, and immediately after that there was nothing to do, and secondly, after discussing what happened with a lawyer, I decided to translate everything that happened into the official channel: according to the law, those who attacked me must be punished.

But then...

- The more you thought about this topic, the more you rethink what happened?

- You can say that.

When it all happened, the first thing I thought of was my mother.

About how to make mom as nervous as possible.

She didn't know the diagnosis at first.

Naturally, the doctors knew, and besides them, Anya (Sidorova. -

) and I: so the two of them hid the seriousness of the situation until the last.

I was sure that in a couple of days I would leave the hospital.

But the very next morning I realized that it was unlikely to succeed.

Did you get a diagnosis?

“Yes, I woke up and saw a council of five serious specialists around my bed, along with the head physician of the hospital.

They explained the possible consequences in detail, and then it became clear for sure that they would not let me out quickly.

“Did you yourself read anything after the fact about the attack on you?”

- I couldn’t read at all for quite a long time - everything merged before my eyes into a continuous line.

“It seems to me that any person in your situation would be filled with a thirst for revenge ...

— You know, often people make wrong decisions under the influence of strong emotions.

At first I just didn’t think about it - I couldn’t, but as soon as I came to my senses a little, I quickly realized that I had no moral right to revenge.

After all, I myself am a father, my son is growing up, he is 12. After all, the guys are also very young - 18 years old, hot, besides, they drank.

I don’t justify their actions at all, and for my part, I once again understand the need to spend as much time as possible with teenagers, educating them and telling them how to behave in different situations, and most importantly, explain the possible consequences.

Teach from childhood: the older you are, the higher the responsibility.

Let's say that night I would have set out to fight back, let's say it even succeeded and someone was injured, but then what?

Dock?

I am an adult, I have no right to allow this, if only because I am surrounded by people for whom I am responsible, who worry about me.

These guys clearly did not have such thoughts, but after all, we are all people, and people tend to make mistakes.

By my decision to go all the way, I could break several lives that had just begun.

- At what point did the parents of those who beat you come out to you?

- I don’t remember exactly, especially since I myself was not in the mood to meet with anyone for quite a long time.

At the investigative measures, the guys repented, their mothers could not hold back the tears, and I chose a different path.

There is something higher than justice - mercy.

Looking at them, in the depths of my soul I knew that I was doing the right thing.

Is the story over now?

- Yes.

I really hope that this story will make people rethink many things in their lives.

I'm in rehab, maybe a long one.

I will take care of my health.

- I know that before the tragedy you had many plans, including those that were associated with an attempt to return to big-time sports.

- There really were plans, I even auditioned with several partners.

What will happen now, and not only in relation to sports, is too early to say.

Especially in the current situation.

But there are ideas.

- Are they somehow connected with figure skating?

- Figure skating will always come first in my life.

It's just that life isn't limited to it.

After all, it is necessary that future work brings not only pleasure, but also money.

This is a very important point, and those who say that they are ready to work only for the sake of pleasure, in my opinion, are disingenuous.

- Does the Russian Figure Skating Federation somehow participate in the process of your rehabilitation?

- In the most difficult period, Tatyana Navka helped me a lot - she immediately made it clear that she was ready to provide any help as soon as it was needed.

The same was said by all those who were next to me during the years of performances: Sasha Zhulin, Sergey Georgievich Petukhov, Pyotr Durnev, Dima Ionov.

As I call them all, my second family.

Together we have gone through so much in sports and non-sports life that we have really become close people.

My Anya was very supportive - she took on absolutely all current affairs - certificates, papers, calls, interviews, medicines, bring, take ...

In general, when there are people like my mother, Anya, my agent Lena Bolotova, who also constantly supported me, you begin to understand that this is the main thing a person needs in life.

And these people need to be protected.

Do you still need medical help?

- I did a lot of work and continue to work with a speech therapist, when I realized that after a head injury I began to noticeably stutter, and in general, it seems to me, the dynamics are very good.

From time to time there are problems with pressure, headaches, but these are already trifles.

I am generally an optimist.

Even when I feel bad, I think that everything is fine.

So I have no doubt that I will be able to recover.

It just takes more time than we would like.

Moreover, even doctors still cannot give any accurate predictions.

- As the hero of the famous film said, the head is a dark object, not subject to research ...

- Only now I began to understand to what extent these are the right words.