Ovechkin backs Putin’s party in campaign ad, drawing international backlash

Russian hockey star Alexander Ovechkin said he had no hesitation participating in a campaign video for Russia’s ruling United Russia party ahead of parliamentary elections, declaring, “I’m Russian, and I support my country,” and expressing hope for peace; the ad features Kremlin figures like Sergei Lavrov alongside Vladimir Putin and has sparked backlash from U.S. lawmakers and Latvia, which declared both Ovechkin and oligarch Umar Kremlev persona non grata.