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Varlamov's Girlfriend Says She's Received Death Threats

Evgeniya Vavrinyuk
Evgeniya Vavrinyuk, left, with translator Diana Senova last November (credit: CBS)

DENVER (CBS4) - The 24-year-old Russian girlfriend of Colorado Avalanche player Semyon Varlamov says she and her family in her homeland have been receiving death threats since she has come forward about his alleged abuse.

With an interpreter's help, Evgeniya Vavrinyuk explained that Tuesday's incident which led to the arrest of the starting goalie has left her with bruises and injuries on her arms and in her midsection.

Vavrinyuk says Varlamov came back very drunk to their apartment near the Pepsi Center early Tuesday morning. She says he kicked and stomped on her.

"While he was doing it he was having a lot of fun, laughing and she was in horrible pain," said Diana Senova, who sat next to Vavrinyuk and translated for her while she did an interview with CBS4 on Thursday.

Vavrinyuk says the couple had been dating for a year and in that time she was been beaten five times, including once when he tried to drown her.

The abuse, she says, happened in other countries and she had little help from the police.

"(She feels) that really the legal system couldn't do anything about it. She feels confident in the U.S. that with the law and women's rights someone will pay attention and notice what happened to her," Senova said.

Varlomov appeared in court Thursday morning on domestic abuse-related charges and bonded out with nothing to say to reporters, even those representing Russian media outlets who came to Denver to cover his arrest.

Varlomov is in line to possibly play for the Russian national hockey team in the 2014 Olympics in Sochi next February.

Varlomov's attorney says the Avalanche are supporting him and that the judge granted him permission to leave the state. Later on Thursday Varlomov traveled with the team to Dallas where they play a game against the Stars on Friday night, but so far it's not clear if Varlomov will suit up.

Varlomov is not allowed to make contact with Vavrinyuk because the judge imposed a restraining order.

"She really, truly loved him and wanted to have a family with him," Senova said, interpreting for Vavrinyuk. "She thought that maybe he would change."

Vavrinyuk says she came to the realization this week that he "will never change and she needs to take some action."

At this point, Vavrinyuk says she is scared to go back home to Russia.

COURT DOCUMENT: Read the arrest affidavit in the case

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