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NHL superstar Ovechkin 'was asked' to film Putin ad, team says
Russian sports icon joins prominent domestic figures promoting the ruling United Russia party ahead of elections.
The Washington Capitals ice hockey team has deflected criticism of star Alex Ovechkin’s appearance in a campaign video for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party.
A spokesperson for the Capitals said that their National Hockey League (NHL) record-setting goal scorer had been “asked by his country to participate”.