Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., has a problem with Alex Ovechkin appearing in a campaign advertisement for the Vladimir Putin-backed United Russia party, and he wants NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to address it.
asserted
Bettman → have → it
Wilson sent Bettman a letter Tuesday calling the Washington Capitals captain’s participation "shameful" and asking the league to review the matter.
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Wilson → send → matter
Capitals owner Ted Leonsis was copied on the letter.
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Leonsis → copy → letter
Ovechkin does not speak in the ad.
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Ovechkin → speak → ad
He stands behind Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in a United Russia campaign video ahead of Russia’s Sept. 18-20 parliamentary elections.
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He → stand → elections
Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of the Russian state-controlled network RT, also appears in the ad.
asserted
Simonyan → control → ad
"While Mr. Ovechkin has every right to hold personal political views, actively participating in campaign material for Putin’s oppressive party while serving as the captain of an NHL franchise in our nation’s capital raises serious questions about the standards expected of players who represent the League and their communities," Wilson wrote.
asserted
Wilson → have → League
The letter does not ask Bettman to suspend or fine Ovechkin.
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letter → ask → Ovechkin
Wilson wants the NHL to explain whether it has any policies governing active players who appear in political advertisements for foreign parties or regimes.
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who → want → parties
He also wants the league and Capitals to make clear that Ovechkin’s participation does not represent either organization’s position.
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represent → want → position
"It is incredibly alarming that [the NHL] and [the Capitals] have allowed Alexander Ovechkin to appear in a campaign advertisement supporting the party of war criminal Putin," he wrote.
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he → allow → Putin
"American hockey fans deserve better leadership from their star players!"
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fans → deserve → players
Wilson elaborated on the letter Wednesday during an interview with Fox News’ Dan Scully.
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Wilson → elaborate → Scully
Asked what he wanted Bettman to do and whether he was seeking discipline for Ovechkin, Wilson did not directly answer.
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Wilson → ask → Ovechkin
"For Ovechkin to be campaigning for a person who is indeed the new Hitler of the 21st century, it’s just inconceivable," Wilson said.
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Wilson → campaign → century
Scully also asked whether Wilson had information that the NHL or Capitals knew about the advertisement beforehand.
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NHL → ask → advertisement
"Ahead of time, I’m not sure," Wilson said.
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Wilson → ’m → time
Capitals respond to Ovechkin ad
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Capitals → respond → ad
The Capitals said Ovechkin was approached while spending the offseason in Russia.
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Ovechkin → say → Russia
"This summer, while in Russia, he was asked by his country to participate in a video campaign," Capitals spokesperson Sergey Kocharov said in a statement to Reuters.
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Kocharov → ask → Reuters
But who asked him?
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who → ask → him
The Capitals did not say.
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Capitals → say → ?
The team also did not answer questions from Fox News Digital/OutKick about whether it knew of Ovechkin’s participation beforehand or whether anyone within the organization approved or facilitated it.
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anyone → answer → it
Kocharov noted that Ovechkin lives with his family in Moscow during the offseason and plans to return there after his NHL career.
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Ovechkin → note → career
He said Ovechkin and the Capitals are focused on the upcoming season and his continued impact in Washington.
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Ovechkin → say → Washington
Ovechkin has publicly supported Putin for years.
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Ovechkin → support → years
He founded "PutinTeam" in 2017 to rally support for the Russian president, and his Instagram profile photo remains an image of the two men standing together.
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photo → found → men
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ovechkin called for peace but declined to criticize Putin.
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Ovechkin → follow → Putin
"Well, he is my president," Ovechkin said at the time.
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Ovechkin → say → time
"But, like I said, I’m not in politics.
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I → say → politics
I’m an athlete.
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I → ’m → ?
Wilson says Ovechkin should face ‘consequences’
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Ovechkin → say → consequences
Wilson argues that the Kremlin has a history of using athletes and international sporting achievements to promote the Russian government abroad.
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Kremlin → argue → government
"An NHL superstar appearing in campaign propaganda for Putin’s political party cannot simply be dismissed as an activity wholly disconnected from the League," Wilson wrote.
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Wilson → appear → League
Wilson also writes that the broader United Russia campaign features Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights.
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campaign → write → rights
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Lvova-Belova and Putin in 2023 over the alleged unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied territory.
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Court → issue → territory
Scully asked Wilson how Ovechkin’s appearance differs from an American athlete supporting a U.S. politician.
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appearance → ask → politician
"The difference is that the American politician is not a mass murderer," Wilson said.
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Wilson → say → ?
"Now, we can all disagree," he continued.
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he → disagree → ?
Wilson did not say what those consequences should be.
asserted
consequences → say → ?
…and 9 more, not listed.
The Aporia
