Artemi Panarin makes decisive statement on playing for Russia at the Olympics
With the trouble Artemi Panarin has found himself in back in Russia given his very clear anti-Vladimir Putin stance, many have wondered if he would play for his home country at the Olympics. The New York Rangers star just did an interview in his home country and has decisively said he will play for Russia if asked.
"I, of course, want to play. But little depends on me," said Panarin when asked if he would like to be at the Olympics.
"I would be glad, because I have not been to the Olympics before. It will be doubly pleasant for me."
Asked if he thought Russian officials would come calling, Panarin said he believes they will.
Yes, I think they will," he said.
"I think everything will be fine. Fans come up with conspiracy theories, but they don't."
Panarin has often spoken out against Russian President Vladimir Putin on his social media accounts. There was also an incident where his former KHL coach, Andrei Nazarov, accused him of assaulting a young woman at a bar in Belarus in 2011. Hardly anyone believed the allegations and they did not stick. While many wondered if this was a set up by Russian government officials to get Panarin into trouble and smear his name, several insisted Nazarov acted alone and simply doesn't like Panarin. Nazarov is well-known for making outlandish claims and is also a die-hard Putin supporter.
Asked if he follows any of the articles in Russia or North America that include his name, Panarin said he doesn't.
"I just don't read it, really. I don't know what's going on. I'm a hot-tempered guy, so I'd better detach myself," said Panarin. "A long time ago I deleted all the news, so in the evenings I collect Lego."
Due to a four-year ban by the World Anti-Doping Committee back in 2019, Russia will again be competing as Olympic Athletes of Russia (O.A.R.) at the 2020 Winter Games in Beijing. The Russian flag will not be flown at Olympic events and the country's national anthem will not be played when O.A.R. competitors win medals.
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YESTERDAY
JUNE 4, 2026
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| G | A | PTS | ||
| Brett Howden | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Shayne Gostisbehere | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Mitch Marner | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Mark Jankowski | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Seth Jarvis | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jordan Staal | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Logan Stankoven | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Mark Stone | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Sebastian Aho | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Ivan Barbashev | - | 1 | 1 | |
| William Carrier | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Noah Hanifin | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Tomas Hertl | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Eric Robinson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Andrei Svechnikov | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Frederik Andersen | - | - | - | |
| Rasmus Andersson | - | - | - | |
| Jackson Blake | - | - | - | |
| Jalen Chatfield | - | - | - | |
| Dylan Coghlan | - | - | - | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||