Alex Ovechkin Defends Putin Endorsement Amidst Political Controversy

Washington Capitals spokesperson has defended NHL superstar Alex Ovechkin's participation in a campaign video for Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating the hockey player was "asked by his country to participate."

Ovechkin, a long-time supporter of Putin and Russia's all-time leading scorer, appeared in a video for the United Russia party ahead of nationwide elections. The appearance has drawn criticism, particularly as Russia's war in Ukraine continues into its fifth year.

"Alex Ovechkin is a Russian citizen who lives in Moscow with his family during the offseason and will live there following his retirement," the Capitals spokesman said in a statement. "This summer, while in Russia, he was asked by his country to participate in a video campaign. As the longest-tenured athlete in Washington, D.C., and a pillar of the community, his focus and ours is on the season ahead and the continued impact he makes on the ice and in our city."

Putin's United Russia party is expected to win a majority in the parliamentary elections, which are viewed as a measure of public opinion on the war.

Ovechkin previously founded the 'PutinTeam' social movement in 2017 to support Putin's re-election campaign and features a photo with the Russian president on his Instagram page. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Ovechkin expressed a desire for "no more war," adding that he was "not in politics."

In 2023, some Capitals fans protested outside the Capital One Arena, calling for Ovechkin to remove images of Putin from his social media.

Czech former ice hockey player Dominik Hasek, a vocal critic of Putin, also voiced his disapproval of Ovechkin's latest endorsement, writing on social media that "Everyone in this photograph has chosen to officially support Russia's imperialist war in Ukraine... Because of each of them, many Ukrainians and Russians will be killed."

Ovechkin, 40, has scored an NHL record 929 goals in 1,573 games. He signed a one-year contract worth $4.25 million in July to return for his 22nd season with the Capitals.