Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin appeared in a campaign advertisement for Russia’s United Russia party, a move confirmed by the team on Tuesday. The ad, which aired ahead of Russia’s parliamentary elections from September 18–20, shows Ovechkin standing behind Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other public figures expressing support for the party backed by President Vladimir Putin.
The NHL has not commented on the matter, but the Capitals issued a statement emphasizing that Ovechkin’s off-ice activities would not affect the team’s focus on the upcoming season. Team spokesperson Sergey Kocharov stated that Ovechkin, a Russian citizen residing in Moscow during the offseason, participated in the video at the request of his country. The Capitals described Ovechkin as a "pillar of the community" in Washington, D.C., and reiterated their commitment to the upcoming NHL season.
Republican Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina sent a letter to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on Tuesday, calling Ovechkin’s participation "shameful" and requesting that the league review its policies on players appearing in political advertisements for foreign parties. Wilson, who did not seek disciplinary action against Ovechkin, asked the NHL to clarify whether it has guidelines governing such appearances. The letter was also copied to Capitals owner Ted Leonsis.
Wilson’s letter follows his public criticism of Ovechkin’s involvement, which he described as supporting "Putin’s oppressive party" while representing an NHL franchise in the U.S. capital. The Capitals and NHL have not publicly addressed Wilson’s concerns or outlined any policy changes regarding player participation in foreign political campaigns.
Ovechkin’s longstanding ties to Putin have drawn scrutiny, including his 2017 launch of the "Putin Team" social movement. His Instagram profile features a photo with the Russian president. The war in Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has intensified global scrutiny of figures associated with Putin’s regime. Hall of Fame goaltender Dominik Hasek criticized Ovechkin and former Russian hockey player Viacheslav Fetisov for their roles in the ad, calling it an endorsement of Russia’s "imperialist war in Ukraine" and stating that their participation would lead to further casualties.
The Capitals confirmed Ovechkin’s appearance in the ad but did not address whether his participation reflects the team’s or league’s stance. The NHL has not issued a public response to Wilson’s letter or inquiries about potential policy reviews. Ovechkin, the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer, led the Capitals to a Stanley Cup victory in 2018 and remains a prominent figure in both Russian and North American hockey.