MOSCOW. Dec 3 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Hockey Federation will send a number of documents to the National Hockey League (NHL) saying that CSKA player Nikolay Zherdev has violated Russian legislation, a source in the Russian Hockey Federation told Interfax on Wednesday.
"Zherdev is a Russian serviceman, and his sudden departure to Canada constitutes a violation of Russian legislation. We will provide the NHL with documents proving this," the source said.
In the summer of 2003, Zherdev was included in the NHL draft and was to go to Canada for his presentation next year. The hockey player has a long-term Canadian entry-visa, the source said.
Zherdev can sign a contract with any NHL club only after all legal formalities are finalized in Russia. Zherdev is the captain of the under-21 Russian national team.
The Russian Defense Ministry told Interfax that Zherdev was recruited to the Russian army in May 2003. He served in Nizhny Novgorod.
Zherdev, born in Kyiv, was granted Russian citizenship last year. He was registered and obtained his new passport in Kazan.