Warnings of Russia meddling with Canadian politics and media

OTTAWA, ON. (NEWS 1130) – As the US tries to figure out the extent of Moscow’s involvement in the last presidential election, there are warnings about Russian meddling in Ottawa and the Canadian media.

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland made comments earlier this week, pointing to reports of Russian interference in US politics, adding Canadians should be prepared for similar efforts here.

Freeland is of Ukrainian descent and the Kremlin has banned her from traveling to Russia for her outspoken opposition to the Kremlin’s movements in Ukraine. There has also been an apparent effort by elements in the Russian Embassy to target Freeland’s family history.

“The story that was basically pushed out by the Russian embassy in Canada or with the help of the Russian embassy is basically that Chrystia’s Freeland’s maternal grandfather was either himself a Nazi or a Nazi collaborationist,” explains Justin Ling with VICE News. “And as with any good piece or propaganda, there is definitely an element of truth to it. Her grandfather was editor-in-chief of a Ukrainian nationalist newspaper in Poland, which was edited and censored by the Nazis,” he tells NEWS 1130.

Ling says the paper did have an anti-Semitic slant, with many articles planted by the Nazi regime, but that the role of Freeland’s grandfather is far from proven. “Researchers have said that he was on the business side, an administrative manager, who was not writing articles or giving editorial direction. It’s worth noting that the paper wasn’t just a propaganda tool of the Nazis or obsessed with anti-Semitism.”

Ling points out the Russian-leaked information has led to coverage, but also debate over whether or not Freeland’s family ties are even relevant today.

“It’s kind of turned out the exact way that the Russians have pushed it, but what we published this week is details of how the Russian embassy has worked to get this story out. I myself was contacted by a source in the Russian embassy who tried to push this story on me, who tried to tell me to write it and who tried to suggest I should be looking into Chrystia Freeland’s family history. I was sent research that pushes their line that her grandfather was a pretty bad guy.”

Ling explains the pitch was made the day after Freeland was appointed head of Foreign Affairs two months ago and within weeks it started to surface online.

“You saw a number of news blogs or sites with a pro-Russia slant — or journalists with a pro-Russia slant — unveil details of the story but cut in with all kinds of bombast and hyperbole. Since then, you’ve seen the Globe and Mail, the Ottawa Citizen, the National Post and others pick up on it and publish a lot of the details,” he explains. “I imagine that the Russians are pretty happy with themselves right now. What they seem to be doing here in Canada is pretty analogous with what they’ve done throughout the world from the United States and Hillary Clinton to Europe and their efforts to discredit mainstream political parties and support fringe movements.”

Ling says the Russian embassy has declined to speak to VICE on the record for this story.