PRAGUE (Reuters) – Czech authorities leaders got here to the protection of former worldwide ice hockey star Dominik Hasek on Wednesday after what they mentioned had been dying threats from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, calling such feedback unacceptable.
Hasek, a Corridor of Fame NHL goaltender who additionally backstopped his nation to Olympic gold in 1998 – the primary Video games to incorporate NHL stars – has lengthy argued towards Russian athletes’ participation in worldwide sports activities as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russian information company TASS reported that after Russian star Alexander Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s profession NHL objectives file earlier this month, Medvedev mentioned on the Telegram social community that Hasek might commit suicide in response.
On Monday, Hasek posted on X that he had despatched letters to the Worldwide Ice Hockey Federation and the Worldwide Olympic Committee regarding what he noticed as a risk.
“I inform them that former Russian President Medvedev threatened to kill me,” Hasek mentioned, including he additionally pleaded within the letters to not enable Russia to make use of sports activities as promoting for its struggle in Ukraine.
On Tuesday, a Medvedev assistant informed TASS that the previous president believed Hasek was mentally unwell.
“I’d advocate him to cross the highway extra rigorously and to not drink beer in untested locations, and to go to a psychiatrist recurrently,” Oleg Osipov informed TASS, quoting Medvedev.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala mentioned on Wednesday Medvedev’s threats had been “completely unacceptable”.
“It’s not attainable to disregard them as Medvedev is just not a non-public particular person however a excessive consultant of Russia,” Fiala mentioned on X.
Czech Inside Minister Vit Rakusan mentioned on X that Hasek can be offered safety if wanted.
(Reporting by Jan Lopatka; Enhancing by Invoice Berkrot)
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