Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., is praising the NHL's response to Alex Ovechkin's appearance in a campaign advertisement for Vladimir Putin's United Russia party and urging the Washington Capitals to make clear they do not endorse their captain's position.
asserted
endorse → praise → position
"I am grateful Commissioner Bettman took the opportunity to condemn war criminal Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine," Wilson said in a statement to OutKick/Fox News Digital.
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Wilson → take → Digital
"At this point the League has done everything reasonable to make it clear they do not endorse the regrettable position held by Mr. Ovechkin.
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they → do → Ovechkin
I hope the Capitals organization takes the opportunity to do the same."
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organization → hope → same
In a Sept. 28 letter to the South Carolina Republican, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Ovechkin participated in the video in a "personal capacity" and reiterated the NHL's opposition to Russia's invasion.
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Ovechkin → say → invasion
"The NHL's position on Russia's invasion of Ukraine is clear and remains unchanged," Bettman wrote.
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Bettman → remain → Ukraine
"Since the outset of the war, the League has condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and called for a peaceful resolution as quickly as possible."
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League → condemn → resolution
Ovechkin's campaign appearance prompted Wilson's letter
The controversy centered on a United Russia campaign video featuring Ovechkin standing behind Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
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Ovechkin → prompt → Lavrov
Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of Russian state-controlled network RT, also appeared in the advertisement, which aired ahead of Russia's Sept. 18-20 parliamentary elections.
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which → control → elections
Wilson sent Bettman a letter Sept. 15, copying Capitals owner Ted Leonsis.
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Wilson → send → Leonsis
He called Ovechkin's participation "shameful" and asked the league to review the matter.
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He → call → matter
"American hockey fans deserve better leadership from their star players," Wilson wrote on social media.
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Wilson → deserve → media
Wilson wanted the NHL to explain whether it had policies governing active players' participation in political advertisements for foreign parties or regimes.
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it → want → parties
He also asked the league and Capitals to make clear that Ovechkin's participation did not represent either organization's position.
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represent → ask → position
His letter did not request a suspension or fine.
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letter → request → suspension
Bettman's response drew a distinction between the political activities of individual players and the NHL's position.
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response → draw → players
"Mr. Ovechkin is a Russian citizen, and his participation in the video was in his personal capacity," Bettman wrote.
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Bettman → write → capacity
"The NHL is an international league, with players from many countries who bring with them their own individual views and perspectives.
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who → bring → views
The League does not speak for its players on political matters, just as individual players do not speak for the League.
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players → speak → League
Bettman's letter does not announce disciplinary action or identify a policy governing players' participation in foreign political advertisements.
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letter → announce → advertisements
It also does not say whether the Capitals knew about or approved Ovechkin’s participation.
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Capitals → say → participation
Wilson wants Capitals to follow suit
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Capitals → want → suit
In a Sept. 15 statement, the Capitals said Ovechkin was approached about the campaign video during the offseason.
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Ovechkin → say → offseason
"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
Kocharov also 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
Ovechkin subsequently addressed his participation on Sept. 17.
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Ovechkin → address → Sept.
"Well, they asked me to do that.
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they → ask → that
I said yes," he said, according to The Washington Post.
uncertain
he → say → Post
Ovechkin has publicly supported Putin for years.
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Ovechkin → support → years
In 2017, he launched the PutinTeam movement to rally support for the Russian president.
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he → launch → president
He has also used a photograph of himself with Putin as his Instagram profile picture.
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He → use → picture
After Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ovechkin called for peace while describing himself as an athlete rather than a political figure.
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Ovechkin → launch → athlete
The Capitals’ earlier statement explained that Ovechkin was approached while spending the offseason in Russia.
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Ovechkin → explain → Russia
Wilson is now asking the team to make clear that his support for Putin does not represent the organization.
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represent → ask → organization
The Aporia
