7 votes

The conflicting situation of Artemi Panarin

2 comments

  1. [2]
    Micycle_the_Bichael
    (edited )
    Link
    Trigger Warning: Assault I wanted to talk about this situation because it is putting me in a situation where I am very conflicted. On one hand, I don't want to minimize the allegations made...

    Trigger Warning: Assault

    I wanted to talk about this situation because it is putting me in a situation where I am very conflicted. On one hand, I don't want to minimize the allegations made against Panarin. He allegedly assaulted an 18 year old woman in a bar, was arrested, and paid a huge hush payout to the police. Issues of assault aren't new to the hockey world.

    The reason things get murky is that the allegations are not coming from the woman herself, but from a KHL coach who is a major supporter of Putin. This is relevant because the allegations surfaced shortly after Panarin tweeted public support for the opposition to Putin, Alexei Navalny. Russia is no stranger to running hit pieces against people who publicly speak out against Putin. So now fans are left to decide who they believe. Of note: Panarin has decided to step back from playing with the team.

    I'd have to say I have about 80% confidence that this is a politically-motivated hit-piece, but at the same time it being politically motivated and Panarin assaulting a woman aren't mutually exclusive.

    1 vote
    1. TheJorro
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      For further context his team, the New York Rangers, recently dropped a player whose off-ice behaviour was causing huge problems for the team, both optically and internally in a move that has been...

      For further context his team, the New York Rangers, recently dropped a player whose off-ice behaviour was causing huge problems for the team, both optically and internally in a move that has been unprecedented in NHL history. In the years that this player had been causing problems for the team with his off-ice behaviour, the team has never put out a statement of support so strongly worded as they have here.

      Also, one detail that's missing from this article is Nalvany's statement for why he decided to bring forth these allegations:

      Nazarov said he was motivated to speak about the incident by Panarin's outspoken comments against the Russian government and support for recent protests calling for jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s release.

      https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/02/23/kremlin-critical-nhl-star-takes-leave-over-assault-allegations-a73033

      4 votes