Latvia Bars Umar Kremlev and Alex Ovechkin After Report Ties Kremlev To Trump Jr. Wedding

Latvia's Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that it has indefinitely barred entry to Umar Kremlev, a 43-year-old Russian boxing official long linked to President Vladimir Putin, and NHL star Alexander "Alex" Ovechkin, 41. The move follows revelations about Kremlev's financial involvement in post-wedding celebrations for Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson in the Bahamas.

Umar Kremlev’s presence at the first son’s wedding weekend puzzled other guests at the intimate event. / Kristina Solovyova / via Reuters

The ministry said in a statement on X that Foreign Minister Baiba Braže "has decided to include Alexander Ovechkin and Umar Kremlev on the list of personae non gratae and to prohibit their entry into Latvia for an indefinite period." The statement did not provide additional detail about the specific reasons for the bans.

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin supported Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party in a new campaign ad. / Timothy T. Ludwig / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

What ProPublica Reported

Investigative outlet ProPublica reported that Kremlev, who leads the International Boxing Association (IBA), funded hundreds of thousands of dollars of post-wedding events for Donald Trump Jr., 48, and Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson, 39. According to the report, Kremlev paid to rent a private island where the couple shared their first dance, financed a fireworks display and attended the celebrations with other Russian guests—an appearance that reportedly puzzled some attendees.

Donald Trump Jr. was previously married to Vanessa Trump, with whom he has five children, and engaged to Kimberly Guilfoyle, whom his father chose as ambassador to Greece after their split. / Al Drago / Getty Images

"It was an extraordinarily generous wedding gift from a friend, and something for which we were and remain incredibly grateful," Bettina Trump said in a statement posted on Instagram after the investigation.

U.S. Inquiry and Sanctions Context

Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, has opened an inquiry into Kremlev's involvement in the celebrations. In a letter to Trump Jr., Garcia wrote that the "secretive and exorbitant gifts you have received ... from a member of Putin's inner circle raises serious national security and public corruption concerns." The letter specifically noted concerns about potential ties between donors and firms holding Department of Defense contracts.

Washington Capitals NHL star Alex Ovechkin has made headlines this week for his ties with Putin. / Kevin Lamarque / Reuters

Ukraine has imposed sanctions on Kremlev, citing his reported closeness to Putin. ProPublica noted that Kremlev does not appear on publicly available U.S. sanctions lists. Kremlev's press office told ProPublica that he and Trump Jr. have a "friendly relationship" and first met "a couple of years ago."

Ovechkin's Inclusion

Latvia's ban also covers Alex Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals star, who has drawn criticism for appearing in a campaign video backing United Russia, Putin's ruling party. Ovechkin has repeatedly described himself as an athlete, not a politician. After the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, he said, "He's my president, but I'm not in politics. I'm an athlete."

"I'm Russian, and I support my country," Ovechkin told reporters. "I'm for peace and love, and I hope ... everybody wants peace." He has also said he plans to live in Russia after his playing career ends.

Latvia's action reflects growing diplomatic pressure in the EU and allied countries to restrict access for prominent individuals seen as closely tied to the Kremlin. Officials gave no timeline for lifting the bans.