Alex Ovechkin faces backlash for supporting Putin in campaign ad

Alexander Ovechkin is probably the single most famous Russian athlete. He is also a supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and not a particularly quiet or passive one. This, occasionally, has gotten him into some hot water with the rest of the world, …

After the NHL star appeared in an ad campaign for United Russia, it’s fair to start pressing about the impact of his stances – even if he doesn’t want to talk about it When Russian launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, reporters asked Washington Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin for his thoughts. It was no secret, even then, that Ovechkin was close to Vladimir Putin. Years before, Ovechkin boosted the Russian president in a social media campaign and featured Putin in his own Instagram profile photo. “He is my president,” Ovechkin said of Putin shortly after the invasion. “But [like] I said, I’m not in politics, I’m an athlete.” That’s over. He’s in politics now. “The thing about the video: I’m Russian,” Ovechkin told reporters Thursday. The video in question is one he taped for United Russia, a group supporting Putin, ahead of parliamentary elections. Ovechkin appears in the video alongside Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of the state-controlled media outlet RT, and others. “I’m for peace and love, and I hope, in the world, it doesn’t matter who you are,” Ovechkin told reporters. “I hope everybody understands everybody wants peace, and everybody hope everything’s going to be OK in the world.” Continue reading...

The Capitals captain, who turned 41 on Thursday ahead of his 22nd NHL season, recently appeared in a campaign video for United Russia.

"The thing about (the) video, I'm Russian. As soon as I'm done playing hockey, I'm probably going to stay there. I'm going to live there. My kids are going to live there," Russian hockey player Alexander Ovechkin said.

Ovechkin publicly addressed his video for Putin's United Party on Thursday.

Alex Ovechkin is drawing criticism after appearing in a TV ad for Vladimir Putin's political party, but the NHL's career goal-scoring leader says he only "supports what's happening in Russia" and hopes the war with Ukraine will end soon.

Ovechkin has previously expressed his support for the Russian president in the past.

NHL all-time scoring leader Alex Ovechkin explained his appearance in a Russian political video backing Vladimir Putin on Thursday by saying he supports his homeland.Ovechkin's appearance in a video standing alongside other notable Russians in a political video backing Putin ahead of Russian elections drew harsh criticism from some, with US Representative Joe Wilson calling on the NHL to review Ovechkin's involvement in the video.

Alex Ovechkin was asked about his appearance in a political video in his native Russia. "They asked me to do that and I said yes," he said.

The hockey star has previously shared his support for the home country and its leader

Washington Capitals forward and NHL all-time leading goal scorer Alex Ovechkin appeared in an ad backing Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ovechkin appeared in a video for United Russia, the country’s ruling party, as the country heads into key parliamentary elections this weekend.

The Washington Capitals ice hockey team Tuesday deflected criticism of star Alex Ovechkin's appearance in a campaign video for Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying the NHL all-time scoring leader had been "asked by his country to participate.""Alex Ovechkin is a Russian citizen who lives in Moscow with his family during the offseason and will live there following his retirement," said a Capitals spokesman in a statement sent to AFP. "This summer, while in Russia, he was asked by his country

The NHL’s all-time leading scorer is placing his support behind Vladimir Putin. Alex Ovechkin, who plays for the Washington Capitals, appeared in an ad for the United Russia party, which supports the 73-year-old president. According to a Tuesday, September 15 report by ESPN, the commercial sees Ovechkin, 40, standing behind Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, […]

The Capitals told The Associated Press that Alex Ovechkin was asked to participate in an ad this summer for Vladimir Putin's United Russia party.

NHL star Alex Ovechkin is facing criticism after appearing in a political ad to support one of "the architects of Russia's war against Ukraine."