Alex Ovechkin defends United Russia campaign video as Latvia issues entry ban

Media day remarks in Washington

On 17 September 2026, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin addressed reporters during the team preseason media day on his 41st birthday, explaining his appearance in a campaign advertisement for Vladimir Putin's United Russia party. Ovechkin stated that he agreed to participate because Russian authorities asked him and he supports his country. He explained that he plans to live in Russia with his family once his playing career ends, while emphasizing that he is not pro-war and hopes for peace. Ovechkin enters his 22nd NHL season holding the league all-time regular-season scoring record with 929 goals after passing Wayne Gretzky earlier in 2026.

“The thing about video: I'm Russian. As soon as I'm done playing hockey, I'm probably going to stay there. I'm going to live there. My kids are going to be there, family. So I'm full of peace and love, and I hope everything's going to be OK.”

Political campaign video and political ties

The video was distributed ahead of the Russian State Duma elections scheduled for 18 to 20 September 2026. In the clip, Ovechkin appears alongside former Soviet hockey player Viacheslav Fetisov behind Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who states that any country threatening Russia should expect no mercy. Ovechkin previously created the Putin Team movement in 2017, supported Putin during the 2018 presidential election, and keeps a photo with the Russian president on his Instagram page. Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ovechkin publicly appealed for peace, calling Putin his president while adding that he is an athlete rather than a politician.

International fallout and diplomatic bans

Ovechkin's participation in the broadcast led to immediate diplomatic penalties in Europe. Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže placed Ovechkin and Russian sports official Umar Kremlev, the president of the International Boxing Association, on Latvia's persona non grata list. Under Latvian immigration law, both men are barred from entering the country for an indefinite period. The decision followed the broadcast of the election material in Russia.

Reactions across North American hockey

In the United States, Republican Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina wrote to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman requesting that the league investigate and suspend Ovechkin for appearing in Russian state campaign material. Hall of Fame goaltender Dominik Hašek stated that participants in the video officially chose to support Russia's war in Ukraine. Former US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul stated that Ovechkin cannot claim to be outside politics while appearing in political advertisements. Washington Capitals General Manager Chris Patrick confirmed to ESPN that Ovechkin did not clear the filming with the team beforehand.

“I would say it's a complicated situation, and I understand why people are upset. And that's probably about as much as I should say about it as the GM of a hockey team and not someone who's deeply versed in geopolitical issues.”