FILE PHOTO: Czech Republic's Prime Minister, Petr Fiala, speaks during the United Nations climate change conference COP29, in Baku, Azerbaijan November 13, 2024. REUTERS/Murad Sezer/File Photo
PRAGUE (Reuters) - Czech government leaders came to the defense of former international ice hockey star Dominik Hasek on Wednesday after what they said were death threats from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, calling such comments unacceptable.
Hasek, a Hall of Fame NHL goaltender who also backstopped his country to Olympic gold in 1998 - the first Games to include NHL stars - has long argued against Russian athletes' participation in international sports due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Russian news agency TASS reported that after Russian star Alexander Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky's career NHL goals record earlier this month, Medvedev said on the Telegram social network that Hasek may commit suicide in reaction.
On Monday, Hasek posted on X that he had sent letters to the International Ice Hockey Federation and the International Olympic Committee concerning what he saw as a threat.
"I inform them that former Russian President Medvedev threatened to kill me," Hasek said, adding he also pleaded in the letters not to allow Russia to use sports as advertising for its war in Ukraine.
On Tuesday, a Medvedev assistant told TASS that the former president believed Hasek was mentally ill.
"I would recommend him to cross the road more carefully and not to drink beer in untested places, and to visit a psychiatrist regularly," Oleg Osipov told TASS, quoting Medvedev.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Wednesday Medvedev's threats were "absolutely unacceptable".
"It is not possible to ignore them as Medvedev is not a private person but a high representative of Russia," Fiala said on X.
Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan said on X that Hasek would be provided protection if needed.
(Reporting by Jan Lopatka; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
