Statement by Minister Joly on Russian interference

September 13, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement:

“Canada, alongside key partners, strongly condemns activities carried out by Russian state-owned media entity RT—formerly known as Russia Today—to attempt to diminish Western public support for Ukraine, influence electoral outcomes in Western and non-Western states and undermine support for and commitment to the rules-based international order and its associated institutions.

“Canadian intelligence has shown that since Russia’s full-scale illegal invasion of Ukraine, RT has become actively engaged in Russia’s global disinformation and influence efforts by acting as an extension of Russian intelligence services, relying on state-backed hacking, psychological and information operations, covert influence and military procurement.

“RT’s efforts include engaging and recruiting Western political commentators and influencers, including Canadians, with the primary goal of leveraging them to produce and disseminate content that would call into question and reduce Western public and political support for Ukraine.

“It is deeply concerning to learn that RT has acquired and managed other pro-Russia assets, including cyber actors who have previously carried out information operations and caused cyber incidents against Western targets, including Canadian critical infrastructure.

“These hostile activities go far beyond those of a legitimate media organization, and they go against any generally-accepted code of journalistic standards, practice and ethics. RT’s reprehensible activities are done covertly, which clearly demonstrates their lack of transparency to the public and to the states in which RT operates.

“By revealing RT’s activities and its ties to the Kremlin, Canada is making it clear to Russia that it will not tolerate any efforts to interfere in Canada’s domestic affairs, nor will it stand for interference targeting any other sovereign country.

“Canada firmly stands with its allies against ongoing Russian attempts to undermine sovereignty and democratic processes globally.

“Canada and our partners will continue to confront Russia’s aggression and subversion. Canada will not tolerate any foreign interference on its soil and will continue to expose and counter these activities.”

Related Product

• Backgrounder: RT’s hostile activities

Useful links

• Russia’s use of disinformation and information manipulation
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