Former national hockey team defenseman Oskars Bartulis obtains Russian citizenship

RIGA - Former Latvian national hockey team defenseman Oskars Bartulis has obtained Russian citizenship, Latvian Hockey Federation (LHF) confirmed to LETA.

The LHF has received the 31-year-old player's notification stating that he will not play for the Latvian national team anymore as he has obtained Russian citizenship.

Bartulis has not yet commented on the development.

Last season, Bartulis was playing for the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) club Ufa Salavat Yulaev. Before that, he was the captain of another KHL club, Vladivostok Admiral.

The National Hockey League club Philadelphia Flyers signed a three-year contract with Bartulis in 2009. He played 73 matches in the NHL regular season and Stanley Cup, scoring one goal and making eight assists.

Bartulis did not participate in this year's World Hockey Championship. He was member of the Latvian national team at the 2005, 2009 and 2012 World Championships and the 2010 and 2015 Winter Olympics.