Following a decision by the District Attorney's Office not to pursue with any charges towards Nikki Bella's estranged husband, Artem Chigvintsev, the former "Dancing With The Stars" performer's attorney released the following statement to People, suggesting that it was not Artem but rather Nikki was who the "primary aggressor" in their domestic dispute that ultimately led to Artem's arrest before divorce proceedings were initiated by Nikki.
"We can now focus on negotiating a shared 50/50 custody schedule. Fortunately, Artem has been able to spend time with Matteo almost every day since 8/29/2024 incident. 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. 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."
"Fortunately, he has a strong support group of loving family and friends. 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."