The Czech government has added Russian citizen Oleg Osipov to its national sanctions list.
“A close associate of Dmitry Medvedev, Osipov regularly spreads extremist rhetoric and in April made credible death threats against Czech national Dominik Hašek, who has been vocally supporting support to Ukraine,” the Czech Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Osipov was banned from entering the Czech Republic, and the Czech government proposed including him on the EU sanctions list.
“This government puts the safety of Czech citizens first. No one has the right to threaten our people. Czechia is a sovereign state, and every citizen has the right to express their opinion publicly,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavský.
The incident with Osipov began after Dmitry Medvedev, former president of Russia, congratulated hockey player Alexander Ovechkin* for his record in the NHL. He said, “895 goals is a great achievement for a Russian hockey player,” and added, “P.S. we are waiting for the crazy Czech, Hasek, to commit suicide.”
Dominik Hašek, then, wrote that he had sent two official letters to the President and the Executive Committee of the IOC. The second letter was addressed to the President, and members of the Council of the International Ice Hockey Federation. “I am informing them that Medvedev, the former Russian president, threatened to kill me,” wrote Hasek on the social network X.
Oleg Osipov, Medvedev’s assistant, commented on Haseks statement to the TASS, Russian state news agency. He relayed Medvedevs words: “I recommend that he cross the road more carefully, not drink beer at unverified places, and visit a psychiatrist regularly”.
*On April 6th, 2015, Ovechkin set a new record by scoring his 895th goal in NHL regular season games. Wayne Gretzkys record stood for 26 years since 1999.
