Artemi Panarin taking a leave of absence after allegations reported
Bejoy Joseph
Posted On February 22, 2021
New York Rangers star Artemi Panarin is taking a leave of absence for personal reasons.
This comes after Panarin’s former KHL coach, Andrei Nazarov said to a Russian newspaper that the Rangers forward got into a fight with a 18-year-old girl in Latvia in 2011.
However, the Rangers say, “Artemi vehemently and unequivocally denies any and all allegations in this fabricated story. This is clearly an intimidation tactic being used against him for being outspoken on recent political events. Artemi is obviously shaken, concerned and will take some time away from the team.”
Panarin had previously spoke out against Russia’s president Vladimir Putin, regarding the country’s economic situation. Nazarov then criticized Panarin’s beliefs toward Putin.
