Ovechkin still backing Putin party in parliamentary vote
Ice hockey legend Alexander Ovechkin has lent Vladimir Putin's party a helping hand in its parliamentary election campaign. It's in keeping with a pattern of support by an athlete who claims not to be political.
Russian hockey star Alexander Ovechkin is backing the ruling United Russia party in the upcoming parliamentary elections, despite criticism stemming from his continued support for President Vladimir Putin. Ovechkin, who is set to begin a new NHL season with the Washington Capitals, appeared in a video promoting United Russia alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
This isn't the first time Ovechkin has publicly supported Putin; in 2017, he launched a group called "PutinTeam" to aid the Russian president's re-election bid. Ovechkin's active support for Putin began after Russia's 2014 invasion of Crimea, and he has expressed strong backing for Putin's actions in Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February 2022.
While Ovechkin has never hidden his feelings for Putin, he emphasizes that he is not a politician and remains focused on his role as an athlete. With both the Capitals and Ovechkin approaching significant milestones, it remains to be seen how his political views might impact his performance on the ice.
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