President Vladimir V. Putin congratulated hockey player Alex Ovechkin on breaking the N.H.L. goal-scoring record with his 895th goal, surpassing Wayne Gretzky's long-standing record. Ovechkin's achievement has brought renewed attention to his political leanings, as he has previously supported Putin and faced criticism for not directly condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Although he emphasizes being an athlete rather than engaging in politics, his connections to Putin remain evident, complicating the celebration of his sports success.
In a statement on Monday, Mr. Putin praised Mr. Ovechkin for the momentous achievement that he called a genuine cause for celebration for fans in Russia and beyond.
Mr. Ovechkin, who has played for the Washington Capitals since 2005, has lived in the United States for the past two decades.
Ovechkin has showed many times he is not afraid and not ashamed of being Russian, even when Russians have been bullied for being Russian, said Sergei Markov.
When asked about it at a news conference, Mr. Ovechkin said, Please, no more war. In response to a question about whether he still supported Mr. Putin, Mr. Ovechkin said, He's my president.
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