Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has defended his appearance in a campaign video supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party, stating he supports “his country” and intends to live in Russia after his hockey career. Ovechkin participated in the video, which features Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warning against threats to Russia, three weeks ago without informing the Capitals. He emphasized his desire for “peace and love” for all, but declined to comment on the invasion of Ukraine, stating he is “not in politics” and does not wish to assign blame.
The 41-year-old Ovechkin, who has previously expressed support for Putin – including creating a “PutinTeam” on Instagram in 2017 – said he is “full of peace and love” and hopes for a peaceful resolution. He clarified he is “not pro-war,” but supports “what’s happening in Russia.” This appearance has drawn criticism, including a call from Rep. Joe Wilson for the NHL to ban him.
While some, like Ukrainian skeleton pilot Vladyslav Heraskevych, have criticized Ovechkin’s support for Putin, Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said he is not affected by the video and believes it will not be an issue for the team. The Capitals organization declined to comment further and made owner Ted Leonsis unavailable. ESPN reported Ovechkin has not received backlash over his participation in the campaign video. Left outlets emphasize the criticism Ovechkin faces, while right-leaning coverage focuses on his stated desire for peace and his intention to return to Russia after retirement; not in dispute is his continued public support for Putin and Russia.
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