{
  "id": 7569776,
  "title": "Ovechkin still backing Putin party in parliamentary vote",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/ovechkin-still-backing-putin-party-in-parliamentary-vote-7569776",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-15T14:45:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "DW News",
    "slug": "dw-news",
    "url": "https://www.dw.com/en/ovechkin-still-backing-putin-party-in-parliamentary-vote/a-79277772?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Alexander Ovechkin, the acclaimed hockey player, has expressed his support for the ruling United Russia party in Russia's upcoming parliamentary elections, set to take place from September 18 to 20. Despite not being present to vote in person, Oveckin participated in a video earlier this month promoting the United Russia list. The video featured Ovechkin in the third row, behind Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who is leading the United Russia campaign. Ovechkin's endorsement for the party has sparked controversy, with Ukrainian skeleton pilot Vladyslav Heraskevych criticizing the player for not speaking out against Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Ovechkin has a history of publicly backing President Vladimir Putin, as evidenced by his creation of the \"PutinTeam\" in 2017 to aid his re-election efforts. Despite his past support, Ovechkin maintains that he is not a politician and remains focused on his professional hockey career, currently with the Washington Capitals. The Capitals, currently ranked 18th out of 32 teams by bookmakers, are considered underdogs to win the 2027 Stanley Cup, even as Ovechkin prepares for his 22nd NHL season.",
  "summary": "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.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "DW English (Top Stories)",
        "title": "Ovechkin still backing Putin party in parliamentary vote",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/ovechkin-still-backing-putin-party-in-parliamentary-vote",
        "published": "2026-09-15T14:45:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Meduza (English)",
        "title": "Putin lost at some overseas polling stations in 2024. Here’s how Russians abroad can vote in this weekend’s State Duma elections.",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/putin-lost-at-some-overseas-polling-stations-in-2024-heres-how",
        "published": "2026-09-15T18:19:11.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}