Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin on Thursday said he is starting a social movement to drum up support for Russian President Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich PutinFBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden Traces of nerve agent found in water bottle in Navalny's hotel room, colleagues say Russia: US trying to foment revolution in Belarus MORE.

Ovechkin, a native of Russia, announced in an Instagram post the creation of the “Putin Team” in support of the Russian president, who is expected to run for another term next spring.

Ovechkin talks to Putin often, and the six-time all-star spends his off-seasons in Moscow, according to The Washington Post.

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According to a translation from The Washington Post, the Instagram post reads: