Alex Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals forward and the NHL’s all-time leading goalscorer, appears in a campaign advertisement for United Russia, the party that backs President Vladimir Putin, images published by the Russian business newspaper Vedomosti show.
The images place Ovechkin alongside prominent pro-Kremlin figures, including Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov — who is listed as a leading parliamentary candidate for United Russia — and Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of the broadcaster RT. Vedomosti published the photographs amid coverage of the party’s campaign activities.
Ovechkin has been publicly identified in the past as a supporter of Putin, and his participation in a party advertisement follows his long-standing profile both on and off the ice. The appearance comes as the Capitals and Ovechkin prepare for a new NHL season, underscoring the cross-over between a high-profile international sports career and domestic Russian politics.
The publication of the images adds to scrutiny of the political engagements of public figures with international profiles. United Russia has consistently positioned itself as supportive of President Putin; the inclusion of internationally recognised personalities in its promotional material is likely intended to broaden the party’s appeal.
The report from Vedomosti did not include statements in the published images from Ovechkin or the other figures shown explaining their participation. The campaign material was circulated in the context of United Russia’s broader campaign activity ahead of upcoming parliamentary votes.