New York Rangers star Artemi Panarin is on leave from the team for personal reasons.
The news came after a Russian newspaper published allegations by former Panarin KHL coach Andrei Nazarov, claiming that the winger got into a physical fight with an 18-year-old woman in Latvia in 2011. Nazarov’s interview said that Panarin ” sent it to the ground with several powerful blows “, according to a translation provided to ESPN. Nazarov had previously criticized Panarin’s outspoken beliefs about Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Artemi vehemently and unequivocally denies any claim in this fabricated story,” the Rangers said in a statement Monday. “This is clearly an intimidation tactic used against him for being frank about recent political events. Artemi is obviously shaken and concerned 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 allegations. unfounded. “
Nazarov, who played 571 games in the NHL, said a criminal case against Panarin was opened in Latvia, but added that someone paid “40,000 euros in cash” to close the case, although it is unclear who paid for it.
Panarin was negotiated with Nazarov’s team a month after the alleged attack.
Last month, Panarin showed his support for Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in an Instagram post. Through a Rangers spokesman, Panarin declined to comment further on the matter in the days following the posting.
Panarin was a finalist for the Hart Trophy as the NHL MVP last season. The 29-year-old scored five goals and 13 assists, adding 18 points in 14 games this season. Rangers have won two consecutive wins, but are still four points from the playoffs in the Eastern Division.
Panarin usually spends his holidays in Russia and still has a family there, including his grandparents. It is rare to see top-level Russian athletes speak out against Putin or the Russian government, but Panarin has been consistent in his stance.
In a 2019 Russian interview, Panarin said he was frustrated to see economic development stagnant and limited to the elite in Moscow.
“I may look like a foreign agent now, but it’s not like that,” said Panarin in the 2019 interview. If I think about problems, I come from a positive place, I want to change something, to make people live better. I don’t want to see retirees begging. “