Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has slammed Russia for shutting down the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)/Radio’s Moscow bureau and for reversing the press statuses and visas of journalists.
While talking to reporters, Trudeau said: “Obviously the truth, responsible journalism, sharing what’s actually going on with citizens is a deep threat to (Russian President) Vladimir Putin and his illegal war and his authoritarian tendencies.”
The spokesperson of Russia’s Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova said it retaliatory move because Canada banned the Russia Today (RT) website.
Trudeau described the move as unacceptable and added that Putin was motivated by his fear of true journalism.
He said: “It’s unfortunate, but not surprising, that he’s trying to shut down strong journalistic institutions.”
The CBC is partly funded by the government of Canada. It got $1.4 billion in 2021 but it owes no allegiance to the government, said CBC News Editor-in-Chief Brodie Fenlon.
Fenlon tweeted: “Our journalism is completely independent of the Canadian government and we are saddened to see the Russian government conflate the two.”
The CBC’s Moscow bureau has been in operation for 44 years. Fenlon said he believed this is the first time any government has shut down one of the agency’s bureaus.
He said: “This appears to be another step by Russia to stifle a free and independent press within its borders.”
Canadian government prohibited RT and RT France in March because it said Russian agencies were biased against Ukrainians.
