Capitals' Ovechkin 'for peace and love' after recent ad for Putin-aligned party
Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin spoke to the media on Thursday, and commented that he's 'for peace and love' after the Russian great appeared in an ad for a party aligned with Vladimir Putin during the summer.
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The video hit the internet this week and has certainly turned some heads throughout the hockey world. The Capitals social media and communications team have been taking a beaten online this week, littered with comments on their social posts about Ovechkin's stance, and his connection to Putin. Ovechkin is seen in the commercial standing behind Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, meanwhile, Soviet hockey star Viacheslav Fetisov also was involved.
“I’m Russian, and I support my country," Ovechkin said Thursday. "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 everybody hope everything’s going to be OK in the world. They asked me to do that, I said yes, so, it's as simple as that."
“I’m Russian, and I support my country," Ovechkin said Thursday. "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 everybody hope everything’s going to be OK in the world. They asked me to do that, I said yes, so, it's as simple as that."
This isn't the first time, and doesn't feel like it will be the last time Ovechkin backs Putin. He previously voiced support for the Russian president in 2017 when he started his social movement for 'Putin Team', and again, back then, Ovechkin continued to say it's strictly because he'll always support his country. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Ovechkin said, “Please, no more war,” when asked about the situation. Asked then about Putin, Ovechkin stated: “He’s my president, but I’m not in politics. I’m an athlete.”
🚨WATCH: Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin responds to criticism after he appeared in a campaign advertisement for Putin's political party in Russia.
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"I'm Russian ... my home is Russia, and this is my second home." pic.twitter.com/r9bMnBZ5zl
Ovechkin shed some more light on the situation on Thursday, and his living situation post career. “I’m going to stay there. I’m going to live there, my kids are going to live there, family. So I’m for peace and love, and I hope everything’s going to be OK,” Ovechkin said. “My home is Russia. DC is my second home. I have lots of friends. I grew up here as a person and I love DC. This is my second home. So I hope everything’s going to be OK, and how I said — peace and love for everybody.”
Set for Season 2️⃣2️⃣ pic.twitter.com/AvM3YCquEx
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