Latvia bans Ovechkin indefinitely after Kremlin campaign appearance

Latvia’s Foreign Ministry announced an indefinite entry ban on Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, adding him to the country’s persona non grata list after his appearance in a United Russia campaign video. The move, waved through by Foreign Minister Baiba Braže and tied to Latvia’s long-standing stance against Kremlin influence, follows other sanctions on Ovechkin by Ukraine and is noted as unusually rare for an active NHL player. Umar Kremlev, a Russian ally of Putin, was also named on the list in the same announcement.