Alex Ovechkin, all-time NHL goal scorer, appears in ad supporting Vladimir Putin

Washington Capitals forward and NHL all-time leading goal scorer Alex Ovechkin appeared in an ad backing Russian President Vladimir Putin, bringing renewed attention to the player’s controversial, longtime support for the authoritarian ruler.

The TV spot came to light just this week, showing Ovechkin standing in a group that included Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and retired Detroit Red Wings defenseman Viacheslav “Slava” Fetisov, professing their support of Putin’s United Russia party.

The Capitals confirmed that Ovechkin appeared in the spot and said the player’s off-the-ice political work will have no impact on the upcoming NHL season.

“Alex Ovechkin is a Russian citizen who lives in Moscow with his family during the offseason and will live there following his retirement,” team spokesman Sergey Kocharov said in a statement to NBC News on Wednesday.

“This summer, while in Russia, he was asked by his country to participate in a video campaign. As the longest-tenured athlete in Washington, D.C. and a pillar of the community, his focus and ours is on the season ahead and the continued impact he makes on the ice and in our city.”

Ovechkin has had a long, close relationship with Putin. Back in 2017, Ovechkin launched the…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/sports