Artem Chigvintsev’s First Statement Since His Arrest Makes a Bold Accusation Against His Ex Nikki Garcia

Regardless of how closely you followed Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Garcia ‘s relationship over the years, we were all saddened on Aug. 29 to hear of Chigvintsev’s arrest for domestic violence . And as fans of the couple continue to wrap their heads around the situation, Chigvintsev, who was released on bail shortly after his arrest, released his first statement about it all.

Brie Garcia Addresses Nikki Garcia & Artem Chigvintsev's Divorce After Domestic Violence Charge

“I am incredibly relieved and grateful that the domestic violence charges against me have been dropped,” the statement to People began. “This has been an extremely difficult time for me. I am thankful that the truth has prevailed.”

The Dancing With the Stars pro then reiterated that his and Garcia’s 4-year-old son Matteo will remain his top priority. “My focus has always been and will always be, our son Matteo,” he said. “He is my world, and being his father is the greatest blessing in my life. All along, my main concern has been for him. I am committed to continuing to provide him with the love, support, and care he needs as we move forward.”

“I am hopeful that securing an equal custody arrangement will help us move on,” he continued. “I want to express my deepest gratitude to my family, friends, and legal team for standing by me during this challenging time. Your support has been invaluable, and I am thankful to everyone who believed in me and saw the truth for what it was. I look forward to moving past this chapter and focusing on what truly matters—continue being the best father I can be.”

Chigvintsev’s attorney, Ilona Antonyan, also gave the outlet a statement and it included a bold accusation against his ex, Garcia.

“We can now focus on negotiating a shared 50/50 custody schedule,” Antonyan said in the statement, adding that Chigvintsev has been seeing his son “almost every day” since his arrest. “He is a very dedicated, interactive, nurturing, and loving parent.”

“My understanding of the investigated facts surrounding the 8/29/24 incident have led me to conclude from the beginning that Artem was not the primary aggressor,” the statement revealed. “I believe that to be true even if the burden of proof would be the preponderance of evidence, which is the standard of proof in family court. He was protecting himself and Matteo.”

In other words, while Chigvintsev was the one taken into custody, he allegedly wasn’t the “primary aggressor” in their confrontation.

“Fortunately, he has a strong support group of loving family and friends,” the statement continued. “I am confident he will move forward from this situation with strength and dignity. Artem is fully committed to fostering a positive co-parenting relationship with his ex. Divorce is never easy, but once custody is settled, the remaining issues tend to be less emotionally charged and easier to resolve.”

Prior to the accusatory statement from Chigvintsev’s attorney, Garcia had given a brief statement of her own. “This is a private matter and Nikki asks for privacy for her and her family at this time,” the statement said. Garcia also filed for divorce on Sept. 11. The two had been married since 2022.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of emotional or physical violence, you can get help. To speak with someone who is trained to help with these situations, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800.799.SAFE (7233) or chat online at www.thehotline.org/