NHL: Ovechkin is campaigning for Putin

Alexander Ovechkin (32) has launched an initiative to support Russian President Vladimir Putin in the March 2018 elections.

“I’m announcing today that I’m launching a social movement called Putin Team,”the Washington Capitals forward from the NHL wrote on Thursday at Instagram.

“I have never hidden my attitude towards our president. I have always supported him openly,”continued the captain of the Russian national team and urged his fans:”I am sure that many of us support Putin. Let us unite and show all of us a strong and closely connected Russia.”

Putin is aiming for his fourth term as head of state in Russia at next year’s presidential elections. A Kremlin spokesman told the Russian news agency TASS on Thursday that Putin does not know anything about Ovechkin’s plans “so far.