Criticism of Putin shows real Panarin
Artemi Panarin spent two years in Columbus before he had the chance to choose where he wanted to play hockey. Last month, he signed a free-agent contract with the New York Rangers worth $81.5 million over seven years. Blue Jackets fans, while crushed, had to admit that Panarin fulfilled his end of the bargain in the Arch City.
He scored at a franchiserecord pace. He smiled. He played with his dog on Instagram. He smiled some more. And there was nothing phony about any of it. Even as he pretended not to
understand English, he did it with a twinkle in his eye — which is to say that, off the ice, he can’t fake anything.
And so it was, then, that when Panarin was asked recently about Russian president Vladimir Putin, he answered from his heart. The video Q&A, posted to a Russian Youtube channel Thursday, was translated into English by journalist Slava Malamud. Over the weekend, it stirred one continent and roiled another.
A word here about Malamud, who with his family fled Moldova, a former Soviet Socialist Republic, in the early 1990s: He has covered the NHL for years. Now a math teacher in the Baltimore area, he still contributes to The Hockey News. His website slavadoesamerica.com is a priceless cultural bridge which, of late, has drawn wide acclaim for his posts about the HBO series “Chernobyl.”
At the top of a terrific interview with a Toronto radio station, Sportsnet 590 The Fan, on Friday, Malamud gave this perspective of Panarin’s criticism of Putin:
“This is absolutely unprecedented in Russian sports. … Among all the active athletes, people who are in the spotlight, it is completely unprecedented. I’ve never ever heard anybody come close to anything like this.”
Panarin said “everything is bought” in Russia and “regular people suffer.” He said he has been enlightened after four-plus years in America. He said:
“Before, I was leaning toward that same atmosphere that is currently in our country: that everyone is attacking us, everyone is oppressing us. Now I know that there are good people who think well of us. There are political games. There are reasons why they impose sanctions on us.”
Panarin shot down the idea that things are better under Putin at a time when most resources are directed toward Moscow and St. Petersburg while the rest of the cities “are a joke.” He said:
“I lived in Columbus, which isn’t even in the top 10 American cities, but look at the pictures and you will see how nice it looks. Everything is clean, safe, everyone is calm. It’s great. American cities are developing thanks to local taxes which stay in the state. But here, a lot of money goes to Moscow, so people everywhere work for Moscow’s benefit. I always thought it’s unfair.”
Panarin said Putin no longer understands what is right and wrong because he is surrounded by sycophants. Panarin said it’s a mistake to think that Putin is a superhuman, and not to be questioned. For those who say love Russia or leave it, Panarin responded:
“This is raving madness. Everyone has left already. All the brains are gone. This should not be happening. … There is still a belief in our society that you can’t say bad things about the government or you will be killed or poisoned. This should not be happening.”
Panarin said he is more of a patriot because he chooses to speak up rather than shut up. And so on. He talks about Stalin (“I am not a fan”). He jokes about the danger he may be in for airing his opinions (“I think I’ve just had a laser (rifle sight) fly over me a few times. From the Gazprom building (across the street in St. Petersburg).” He said athletes should pay attention, like anyone else, to what is going on in their countries. And they should not be afraid to say something.
Here’s Malamud, from the radio interview: “Are we going to see news from the Russian news agency that Artemi Panarin has decided to retire from hockey to spend more time with his favorite Siberian ditch? I honestly don’t think so. I don’t think anyone knows because, once again, nothing like this has ever happened …”
Panarin’s interview was taped in the living room of his St. Petersburg apartment about a month ago. For context, I would encourage anyone to visit slavadoesamerica. com and check out Malamud’s most recent take in The Hockey News.
Panarin’s mic-drop at the end of the video is priceless. Asked whether politics and sports should be kept separate, Panarin waves off the notion, says, “But why do (some politicians, Putin in particular) play hockey then? Can we say that politics should be outside of sports? OK, then, Vladimir Vladimirovich, sell your skates!”
Then Panarin, eyes atwinkle, turns to the camera. There, in that sly glance, is the terrible beauty of being true to one’s self. What that must be like.