ESPN Reporter Holds Alex Ovechkin’s Skates to the Fire as He Grills NHL Star About Appearing in Pro-Putin Ad

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Alexander Ovechkin, third from left, stands in a group that includes Russia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov, and Maria Lvova Belova, who has been accused of war crimes for stealing Ukrainian children. (Screengrab via X)

ESPN’s Robert Klemko earned praise for his tough questioning of NHL star Alexander Ovechkin after the “Great Eight” appeared in a campaign ad for Russian dictatorVladimir Putin.

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Ovechkin, 41 — who is the NHL’s all-time leading goalscorer and has been staunchly pro-Putin over the years — appeared in the United Russia ad with a group behind Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who recently threatened Europe with war.

Back stateside for the impending start of the NHL season, Klemko probed the Washington Capitals star on his decision to appear in the ad.

Eventually, Ovechkin claimed he wasn’t “into politics” before walking away

Read Klemko’s account of the exchange below:

After quietly answering questions about his support for Putin’s agenda in a press conference, Alex Ovechkin said, “Let’s do hockey questions.” I spoke with him after and asked Russia questions until he ended the interview.

“I wanted to know more about the process of filming the ad. When did you shoot it?”

AO: “I think three weeks ago.”

“Did you tell the team you were doing it?”

AO: “No.”

“Were you surprised by the backlash?”

AO: “I’m surprised, but it is nothing you can change right now. I’m Russian, I’m gonna live there when I’m done. My kids gonna be there. My family’s gonna be there, you know, I support my country. That’s it.”

“I think the reason for the backlash being bigger this time is because of what Lavrov says about countries bringing “the sword” to Russia. When I talk to experts about that, it mimics messaging Russians get that says Ukraine is responsible for being invaded by Russia. So you standing behind him, as he says that, feels to people like a pro war stance.”

AO: “Well, I don’t think it’s a pro war. I think it’s just support what’s happening in Russia. I want the peace and love for everybody. It doesn’t matter who you are, American, Russian, or Ukrainian. Like, I have lots of friends who are Ukrainians, and I hope everything’s gonna be good, and everything’s gonna be done soon.”

“It’ll be done soon if Putin stops the invasion. Like, that’s how it ends.”

AO: “Well, I’m not in politics. I can’t say who’s right and who’s wrong.”

“In that larger group, there were about 30 people with you, One of the people is Maria Lvova Belova. She’s got an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for abducting Ukrainian children.”

AO: “I don’t know who that is.”

“Okay. Can you understand why a congressperson says the NHL shouldn’t allow you to participate because you support this regime, and this country is spending billions of dollars helping fight Russia? What’s your reaction to that?”

AO: “Well, everybody have their own opinion, right? I’m not a politician, I’m an athlete, and, how I said, I’m gonna live there when I’m done playing. I support my country. Like, I’m Russian.”

“You would support it no matter what?”

AO: “Well, I’m gonna live there, yeah.”

“So if they’re responsible for a genocide, you would support the genocide?”

AO: “What do you mean, genocide?”

[Media relations official translates ‘genocide’.]

AO: [Groans.] “Oh. I would say, like, I’m, I hope it’s not gonna, it’s not gonna be like that.”

[Ovechkin walks away]

Putin invaded Ukraine in February 2022, prompting a years-long war and intense isolation of Russia, which has shown no signs of retreat despite massive losses.

Ovechkin wasn’t the only hockey star to appear in the ad. Legendary former defenseman and Hockey Hall of Famer Viacheslav “Slava” Fetisov, who spent 10 years playing in the NHL for the New Jersey Devils and the Detroit Red Wings, also participated.

Klemko was praised for the tough line of questioning:

The post ESPN Reporter Holds Alex Ovechkin’s Skates to the Fire as He Grills NHL Star About Appearing in Pro-Putin Ad first appeared on Mediaite.

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