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Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin has drawn renewed attention over his political ties after appearing in a campaign video connected to United Russia, the ruling party backed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Capitals said Tuesday that Ovechkin was asked to participate in the video while spending the offseason in his native Russia. The NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer appears standing behind Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the campaign footage.
The video comes ahead of Russia’s parliamentary election, scheduled for September 18-20, and has prompted criticism because of Ovechkin’s longstanding association with Putin amid Russia’s continuing war in Ukraine.
Capitals spokesperson Sergey Kocharov said Ovechkin is a Russian citizen who spends his offseasons with his family in Moscow and expects to live there after retiring. Kocharov said the hockey star was asked by his country to take part in the campaign while in Russia this summer. He added that Ovechkin and the Capitals are focused on the upcoming NHL season and his role in the Washington community.
Czech hockey legend Dominik Hasek criticized Ovechkin and former Russian player Viacheslav Fetisov for appearing in the campaign. In a post on X, Hasek argued that those featured in the video were supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Ovechkin’s relationship with Putin has attracted attention for years. In 2017, he launched a public movement supporting the Russian president, while his Instagram profile picture features the two together.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ovechkin publicly called for peace. Asked at the time about Putin, he said the Russian leader was his president while emphasizing that he considered himself an athlete rather than a political figure.
Ovechkin, who turns 41 on Thursday, has recorded 929 goals across 1,573 NHL regular-season games. The 2018 Stanley Cup champion is preparing for his 22nd NHL season after signing a one-year, $4.25 million contract with Washington in July.
