Thread by @SlavaMalamud

Fun fact.
In 2014, Ovechkin called Ukrainians fascists, promoting the Putin's narrative to legitimize his initial invasion of Donbas.
When I called him out, @CapitalsPR wrote me a nastygram, calling me "a smug fan and not a journalist" and threatening to yank my credentials.

Which they did.
What have you to say now, @CapitalsPR?

For those asking, yes, I have receipts.
The exchange was precipitated by Ovechkin's taking part in Kremlin's "Save Children From Fascism" campaign, which painted Ukraine as a Nazi country and Russia's occupation of Crimea and Donbas as a "rescue" mission.

This prompted this sarcastic tweet by me.

https://twitter.com/SlavaMalamud/status/544899108008624128?s=20&t=ioUzbyFUe28WAC4qVXrXhw

In response to which I got an email from the @CapitalsPR employee Kurt Kehl, consisting of one word: "Really?"
This is how I answered and how Mr. Kehl replied.

The exchange continued:

I haven't heard from Mr. Kehl or anyone at @CapitalsPR ever since. Since by then I had already quit Sport-Express following the newspaper's sale to Putin's lover Alina Kabayeva, I considered the matter moot anyway...

However, when the IIHF wanted to get me accredited for World Cup tuneup games in DC, I was informed by their media officer that Caps VP of communications @SergeyKocharov personally informed them that I am blacklisted from the arena. The ban, AFAIK, remains in place to this day.

Here is the email exchange with IIHF.

Finally, how does this story end?
I quit Russian media after Crimea and due to no longer being able or wanting to work at Capitals games.
I am a school teacher now, a job I love.
I have spent 8 years trying to tell folks who Ovechkin really is.
Nobody listened. Until now.

But now, it's no longer about my hurt feelings, Ovechkin's stupidity or @CapitalsPR's petty vindictiveness toward a foreign journalist they felt they could bully with impunity.
Now, it's about something much bigger.
My voice is small. It barely carries outside my classroom.

I won't be in the Hall of Fame. I can't change many minds. Ovechkin will be and can.
Contrary to what you think, his family risks nothing. One strong statement from him about how much he opposes the war and wants Russia to leave Ukraine will have a big effect on Russian people.

He can undo a lot of damage he helped cause. He can own up to his mistakes. He can become a hero. He is one of very few people in the world who can do so quickly, easily and at no personal risk.
If he chooses to. If he is made to feel he has to.
I am done.