Promotion of genocide is prohibited by the Criminal Code of Canada
October 8, 2026. OTTAWA, ON. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) calls on the Government of Canada to deny Alexander Ovechkin and other promoters of Russia’s genocide against Ukraine entry into Canada.
“That the National Hockey League celebrates Ovechkin and ignores his support of a genocidal regime is a moral stain on the NHL. But the NHL’s cravenness in no way absolves the Government of Canada from its responsibility to enforce the law and protect the security of Canadians,” stated Alexandra Chyczij, National President of the UCC. “The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship has the authority to bar supporters of genocide from entry into Canada. The UCC calls on Canada to act today and bar entry to Ovechkin and other supporters of Russia’s genocide against Ukraine.”
Ovechkin’s team, the Washington Capitals, are scheduled to play in Ottawa on November 10. The UCC calls on the Government of Canada to state publicly that Ovechkin will not be allowed to enter Canada for that or any subsequent games.
In 2022, Canada’s Parliament unanimously recognized that Russia is “committing acts of genocide against the Ukrainian people.” Russian president Putin and other Russian war criminals have been indicted by the International Criminal Court for genocide and war crimes.
Under Canada’s Criminal Code (Sec. 318 (1)), promoting or advocating genocide is an indictable offence. By explicitly, continually and publicly endorsing Russian president Putin and his political party, Ovechkin is promoting Russia’s genocide against Ukraine. Ovechkin recently appeared in a political campaign ad for United Russia – Putin’s political party. For years, Ovechkin has consistently supported Putin and his policies.
The security threat Russia poses to Canada is grave and indisputable. Russia is increasingly brash in its violent actions against NATO states. The recent Russian drone attack at a German airport in Leipzig is the latest case of hundreds of such incidents.
Recently the UCC presented a briefing note to the Government of Canada in which the UCC recommended that, “Pursuant to the discretion granted the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship in Section 22.1 (1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Minister issue a Regulation restricting the entry into Canada for citizens of the Russian Federation unless they clearly renounce Russia’s genocidal war against Ukraine.”
The UCC’s brief is available here: UCC Policy Brief – Temporary Resident Visa Policy – citizens of the Russian Federation
Sign the petitions today!
Two petitions to the House of Commons calling on the Government to declare Ovechkin inadmissible to Canada can be signed below.
Please click on the petitions below and sign both today!
