Washington Capitals officials say they did not authorize Russian hockey star Alex Ovechkin’s appearance in an advertisement for Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party, which surfaces this week. The team states Ovechkin was asked to film the ad while he was home in Russia during the summer.
Both outlets report the Capitals’ position that the request came from outside parties and that the team’s role is limited to its relationship with the player as part of the NHL. They say the ad’s public release prompts questions about whether the organization had any involvement. No source in the provided material includes details about who made the request, what agreement—if any—was discussed, or whether Ovechkin participated voluntarily.
Overall, the reports focus on the Capitals’ response to the ad’s emergence, while acknowledging the broader context of Ovechkin’s high public profile in Russia and the political sensitivity of the United Russia branding. The outlets’ coverage aligns on the core claim that the team says it was not behind the filming request.
