Don Jr.’s ‘Dear Friend’ Banned From New Nation Over Putin Ties

Cathal McNaughton / Reuters A sanctioned Russian oligarch who bankrolled part of Donald Trump Jr.’s Bahamas wedding weekend has been banned from entering a NATO nation.

Latvia’s Foreign Ministry announced Thursday that the EU member state had imposed an indefinite entry ban on Umar Kremlev , 43, an international boxing figure with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin .

The ban also applies to Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, 41, the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer who came under fire this week for appearing in an ad backing the Russian dictator.

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs, 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 ministry said in a statement on X.

The ministry did not elaborate on why Kremlev and Ovechkin have been barred from the country.

The announcement came after ProPublica revealed on Monday that Kremlev, the head of the International Boxing Association, spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on post-wedding celebrations for Donald Trump Jr., 48, and Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson, 39.

Kremlev reportedly paid to rent a private island where the couple shared their first dance.

He also paid for a fireworks show and personally attended with other Russians, puzzling other guests at the event, which was largely attended by close family and friends.

Trump Jr. and his wife said their “dear friend Umar” had hosted two “incredible nights of celebrations” for them.

View this post on Instagram “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 following the investigation.

“It’s unfortunate that something so personal and happy can be recast as something political or sinister simply because of who someone is or where they come from,” she wrote.

“Friendship doesn’t require a political motive.

Generosity doesn’t automatically come with an agenda.

And sometimes a wedding gift is simply a wedding gift.” Rep.