Overview
- Russian outlets published the campaign material on Tuesday, showing Ovechkin standing behind Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as Lavrov warns “expect no mercy” to those who attack Russia.
- The Washington Capitals said Ovechkin was asked to participate while in Russia this summer, a statement that critics say misstates the request because the invitation came from the United Russia party rather than the Russian state.
- The video went viral on social media and prompted public backlash from athletes, public figures and fans calling for sanctions, bans or other league action against Ovechkin.
- A U.S. congressman has asked the NHL to review the appearance and the league has been pressed to clarify any policy on players appearing in foreign political advertisements, while Ovechkin is expected to address reporters at training camp on Thursday.
- Ovechkin’s cameo underscores his long public ties to Vladimir Putin dating to his 2017 ‘Putin Team’ campaign and arrives just days before Russia’s parliamentary elections, raising broader questions about how sports teams and leagues manage players’ participation in foreign partisan politics.