Canada’s Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly on Friday announced new sanctions against Russian agents and organizations, focusing on those involved in Russian disinformation efforts.
Canada is imposing sanctions on 29 agents and 15 entities owned or controlled by the Russian government involved in spreading Russian propaganda regarding the war in Ukraine, Global Affairs said in a press release.
Among those sanctioned is Sumbatovich Gasparyan, the head of the international department of the Russian-funded RT station.
Joly made the announcement while attending the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in Bali, Indonesia.
“The Russian propaganda machine must be held accountable for its lies. Canada is committed to fighting misinformation wherever and whenever it is,” Joly said in the statement.
“Today, we make it clear to those who sell scams: you will be held accountable. Canada is on the side of Ukraine.”
Canada has now sanctioned more than 1,600 Russian agents or entities in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Sanctions prevent Canadians from any property related to those on the list, making goods available to them, or offering them financial services, among other things.
The government also announced that it is now banned from importing certain gold products from Russia.
Products include forged gold, semi-finished gold, gold dust, monetary gold and gold jewelry.
The statement highlighted other efforts by the Canadian government to counter Kremlin propaganda, including a website focused on countering the false claims the Russians have made regarding the war in Ukraine.
“Canada will continue to use this platform to clarify how the Russian regime is using lies to justify its illegal, unprovoked and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine,” the press release says.