The Latvian government has officially barred Washington Capitals hockey player Alex Ovechkin and International Boxing Association (IBA) president Umar Kremlev from entering the country. Foreign Minister Baiba Braže announced the decision to place both individuals on a list of personae non gratae, effectively prohibiting their entry into Latvia indefinitely.

While the government did not provide a detailed public explanation for the timing of the ban, the announcement followed shortly after Ovechkin appeared in a political advertisement supporting a party backed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The move aligns with Latvia’s broader policy of restricting the entry of individuals perceived to be closely aligned with the Russian state apparatus amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Umar Kremlev, who has also faced scrutiny for his leadership of the IBA and his ties to Russian political interests, was included in the same directive.

This decision marks a significant escalation in how Baltic nations are handling public figures who maintain close ties to the Kremlin. By designating these individuals as unwelcome, Latvia is signaling that professional or sporting status does not exempt public figures from the country’s strict entry requirements regarding Russian political influence. Neither Ovechkin nor Kremlev has issued a formal response to the travel ban as of Wednesday.