Russia18 September, 20263 min read
Alex Ovechkin Faces Backlash After Supporting Vladimir Putin’s United Russia Party
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Ovechkin appeared in a United Russia campaign ad endorsing Sergey Lavrov before parliamentary elections. He faced widespread backlash from Western media and fans after the ad leak.
6 outlets told this the same way.
Ovechkin backs United Russia
Russian NHL star Alexander Ovechkin is facing backlash after appearing in an election ad for President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party, with the video showing Ovechkin endorsing Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as Lavrov warns Moscow’s enemies to “expect no mercy.”
“Lavrov warns Moscow’s enemies to ‘expect no mercy.’”
Ovechkin, who captains the Washington Capitals, told reporters at a news conference on Thursday, “I’m Russian. I support my country,” and said, “I’m gonna live there, my kids are gonna live there.”
The CNN account says the video was released ahead of Russia’s parliamentary elections this weekend, and it also notes that Latvia announced it has banned Ovechkin from entering the country.
CNN also reports that Russia denies allegations that it is committing war crimes in Ukraine despite charges brought against Putin and other Russian officials by the International Criminal Court.
In a separate account, The Hill says Ovechkin told reporters, “I’m for peace and love, and I hope everything is going to be OK,” while describing Russia as his home and America as his “second home.”
Critics demand action
The Hill reports that Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) wrote to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman calling for the league to clarify its policies on active players participating in political campaigns overseas.
CNN adds that Wilson sent a letter saying it was “incredibly alarming” that Ovechkin had shown public support for “the party of war criminal Putin,” and it says the Ukrainian Canadian Congress called for Ovechkin to be sanctioned and banned from entering Canada.
CNN also says Latvia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it was also banning Umar Kremlev, described as a Kremlin-connected businessman who reportedly spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund parts of Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding celebration in the Bahamas.
In the same CNN account, Ukrainian Athletics Federation head Olga Saladukha said in a statement the video illustrated why sport and athletes cannot be separated when it comes to Russia, writing, “Sport and athletes represent in the Russian Federation – yet another element of the state, state propaganda, militarism and imperial delusions,”.
The Hill further reports that ESPN journalist Robert Klemko said Ovechkin told him he filmed the ad about three weeks ago and said, “Well, I don’t think it’s a pro war,” while adding, “I want the peace and love for everybody.”
League, contracts, and fallout
CNN says the Washington Capitals said Ovechkin had been asked to film the video while he was in Russia for the summer, and Capitals general manager Chris Patrick told ESPN that Ovechkin had not told the team about the filming. CNN also quotes Patrick saying, “I would say it’s a difficult situation, and I understand why people are upset,” and it reports that Ovechkin is one of the NHL’s most decorated players, including being captain of the Washington Capitals for 16 seasons. The CNN account places Ovechkin’s recent milestones in context, saying he became the NHL’s all-time top scorer in April 2025 and scored his record 900th goal last November, a month after turning 40.
The Hill says Ovechkin told reporters he filmed the ad about three weeks ago and that the Capitals play their first preseason game Sunday, with Russian elections slated to be held this weekend. Separately, CNN reports that Ovechkin’s video includes figures such as Margarita Simonyan and Vladimir Mashkov, and it notes that Mashkov has been sanctioned in Europe over his backing for Russia’s war in Ukraine.