Advertisement

Semyon Varlamov hit with civil suit from ex-girlfriend

Semyon Varlamov hit with civil suit from ex-girlfriend

When Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov was arrested on domestic violence charges last year, Evgeniya Vavrinyuk, his then-girlfriend and the alleged victim, suggested that a civil suit could follow the criminal action.

Prosecutors in Denver dismissed a misdemeanor assault charge in Dec. 2013, claiming that they didn’t believe they could convict Varlamov “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

But as everyone that recalls the O.J. Simpson saga knows, there’s a different, lower burden of proof in a civil trial. On Monday, TMZ Sports reported that Vavrinyuk has filed a civil suit against Varlamov, citing years of abuse:

In her suit, filed in Colorado by attorney Keith Fink, Vavrinyuk claims Semyon first attacked her back in 2012 in a "drunken animal rage" ... kicking and punching her even after she was "helpless on the ground."

Vavrinyuk claims the abuse occurred multiple times ... with Semyon constantly apologizing and begging her for forgiveness when he sobered up.

In her suit, Vavrinyuk says some of the abuse occurred when they were living in Russia -- but even when neighbors called police, "they refused to file any report or press charges due to Varlamov's celebrity hockey player status in Russia."

"The officers even shook his hand and wished him the best of luck the following season after speaking to the beaten and bruised Vavrinyuk," her lawsuit claims.

She’s seeking more than $1 million in damages. She gave a lengthy interview to Russian media last year that detailed her accusations. 

Now, what do you do if you’re the NHL, and you’ve just suspended Slava Voynov in a domestic assault case in which charges haven’t even been filed?

Probably nothing. They’ll likely draw a distinction between a criminal case and a civil case, and Varlamov will continue to play for the Avalanche. As he did last season, in a decision that now makes the NHL look either better informed or over-reactionary in their Voynov decision.