Russia orders closure of CBC / Radio-Canada network International | News

Russia on Wednesday ordered the closure of the Moscow office of the Canadian radio station CBC / Radio-Canada and the revocation of the accreditation and visas of its journalists, which was described by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “unacceptable”.

This is the first time Moscow has vetoed a Western media outlet since the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine on February 24. Russia explained that this was a reaction to the ban on RT’s broadcast channels by the Russian group in Canada, which was decided in mid – March.

“With his decision to expel the Canadian media from Moscow, Putin is trying to prevent them from reporting the facts, which is unacceptable,” Trudeau said on Twitter. “Journalists can work safely without censorship, intimidation or interference,” he added.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the CBC had become “a propaganda megaphone” against Russia and accused the Canadian government of “openly adopting a rhetorical attitude”.

He also condemned Canada’s support for Ukraine before and after Russia’s invasion.

The CBC / Radio-Canadase team said it was “deeply disappointed” by the Kremlin’s decision, recalling that it had a reporter’s office in Moscow for 44 years and was the only Canadian media outlet with a permanent presence in the country.

The CBC, which has hired nine people in Russia, including three foreign journalists, announced in early March that it was “temporarily” suspending its reporters in Russia due to a new law punishable by imprisonment for spreading “false information”. Army ”, in the midst of the Russian offensive in Ukraine. (I)