Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin stood by his participation in a video for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s political party, and said he will live in his home country, Russia, when he is done playing.
“I want the peace and love for everybody,” Ovechkin told ESPN Thursday during Washington’s media day at their training facility. “It doesn’t matter who you are, American, Russian or Ukrainian. I hope everything’s gonna be good and everything’s gonna be done soon.”
When asked about Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, Ovechkin said: “I’m not in politics. I can’t say who’s right and who’s wrong.”
Ovechkin, who said he is not “not pro-war,” explained that he only supports “what’s happening in Russia” and he hopes the war will “be done soon.”
The 41-year-old appeared among other Russian celebrities in a video in support of United Russia, a group backing the regime of Putin.
In the campaign video, Ovechkin stands with supporters of Putin’s United Russia political party as Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov delivers a monologue warning anyone who comes at Russia “with a sword” to “expect no mercy: we will rise together, as we do today,” according to ESPN.
Ovechkin told the outlet that he filmed the ad three weeks ago — and did not inform the Capitals that he was doing so before signing a one-year extension in July.
“The thing about video: I’m Russian,” Ovechkin told reporters on Thursday. “As soon as I’m done playing hockey, I’m probably going to stay there. I’m going to live there. My kids are going to be there, family. So I’m full of peace and love, and I hope everything’s going to be OK.”
Ovechkin shut down questions about the ad when a reporter asked why he participated in it.
“As I said, I’m Russian and I support my country,” Ovechkin said. “So as I said, I’m for peace and love, and I hope, in the world, it doesn’t matter who you are. I hope everybody understands everybody wants peace, and I hope everything is going to be OK. All right, let’s do hockey questions.”
Ovechkin said he had not received backlash over his participation in the campaign video.
Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., asked the league consider banning Ovechkin over his participation in the ad in a letter to the NHL this week, also addressed to Capitals owner Ted Leonsis.
Capitals coach Spencer Carbery explained that he was not affected by the ad, and didn’t think it would be an issue for the coaching staff or roster.
“Not for me,” Carbery said. “I mean, I know ‘O’ as good as anybody inside this organization, and I know his family and what he’s all about.
“I haven’t seen the video or whatever, but I know this: ‘O’ has done an amazing job in my time here. I love him. I love his family. He’s a big part of our team, and I think him being our captain and the relationship that I have with him as a coach here — yeah, it doesn’t affect me.
The Capitals declined to answer questions regarding the ad and declined to make Leonsis available for comment, ESPN said.
In a statement this week, the Capitals said: “Alex Ovechkin is a Russian citizen who lives in Moscow with his family during the offseason and will live there following his retirement.
“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.”
