Russia closing CBC's Moscow bureau in retaliation for Canada banning Russian state TV

Russia has moved to close CBC/Radio-Canada's Moscow bureau and strip its journalists of their visas and accreditation, saying it was retaliating after Canada banned Russian state TV station RT.

"It's our response measure, which is taken because of the decision of theCanadian government to ban broadcasting of theRussian channel, Russia Today and RT France," Vladimir Proskuryakov, deputy chief of mission at Russia's Embassy in Canada, told CBC News.

"There is no question about making any unfriendly steps against Russia. We will have to respond to this. This is the rules of the game."

The move comes after Canada's telecommunications regulator saidit was removing RT and RT France, stations formerly known as Russia Today, from its list of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution in Canada.

WATCH |Canadian 'censorship' behind decision to close CBC Moscow bureau, Russian diplomat says:

Canadian 'censorship' behind decision to close CBC Moscow bureau, Russian diplomat says

2 years ago

Duration 1:23

According to Vladimir Proskuryakov, deputy chief of mission of the Russian Embassy to Canada, Russia's decision to close CBC's Moscow bureau was a retaliatory step in response to Canada's 'censorship in media.' He said Russia may take similar actions against other countries that ban Russia's state TV station RT.

It was not clear why Russia waited two months to announce its decision.

On Wednesday evening,Proskuryakovsaid CBC/Radio-Canada's foreign staff would have "not less than three weeks" to leave the country.

"Ican assure you that the journalists, the reporters, the representatives of CBC will not suffer. So actually, we will take into account all the factors, family situation, etc., and we will allow them to still come back and finish their business, close all deals, what they need. And if they need, we will give them some time."

Announcing the closure toreporters in Moscow earlier on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Canada and other countries of "open attacks on the Russian media."

The Russian Embassy soonreiterated its stance in a tweet.

Proskuryakovsaid he "wouldn't rule out" Russia shutting down other international news outlets' bureaus, including those ofEuropean Union countrieswhich have collectively banned RT andRussia's Sputnik news agency since the start of the war in Ukraine.

In February, after Germany blockedRT's broadcasts, Russia respondedby closingthe Moscow bureau of German broadcaster Deutsche Welle and revoking press credentials for itsjournalists.

"Any unfriendly step will receive a response. So you have seen this with Deutsche Welle, now with CBC,"Proskuryakov said.

"So probably if we see that the rights of our journalists and the freedom of speech is violated in any country, any country, then we will take appropriate steps."

'Verydisappointing'

CBC News editor in chief Brodie Fenlonsaid Russia's decision was "very disappointing."

"CBC News and its journalists are completely and entirely independent of any government or agency, so we don't have anything to do with those [regulatory] decisions. We were there to report what is happening within Russia factually, [and] accurately,"Fenlon said in an interview.

WATCH |Fenlon responds tobureau's closure:

CBC News editor in chief responds to Moscow bureau closure

2 years ago

Duration 1:28

CBC News editor in chief Brodie Fenlon says Russia's decision to close CBC/Radio-Canada's Moscow bureau and revoke visas and press credentials for its journalists is 'a sad day' for press freedom.

"Obviously we know that media and press freedom in Russia has been curtailed seriously. I suppose we are the latest evidence of that."

CBC/Radio-Canada had maintained a bureau in Moscow for more than 44 years, and wasthe only Canadian news organization with a permanent presence in the country. Its bureau had 10 employees, including editorial and administrative staff, some of whom were locally hired Russians.

It was believed to be the first time that a foreign government had forced the closure of a CBC bureau.

CBCand other news outlets, including the BBC and Bloomberg, suspended their reporting from the ground in Russia in March, afterRussian President Vladimir Putin signed a bill introducing a prison sentence of up to 15 years for spreading information that goes against the Russian government's position on the war in Ukraine.

Fenlon said CBC would continue to cover Russia from outside the country.

Asked about the conditions under whichCBC's bureau might reopen in future, Proskuryakovsaid that process could begin if Canada allowed RT to resume broadcasting on its airwaves.

"We are just making a retaliatory step. It's on the basis of reciprocity As soon as Canada understands that it's not right to close Russian TV stations or when Canada stops using censorship in media. So, of course, we will be glad to see CBC News back, Radio-Canada back. We have no problem with the journalists themselves."

'Not surprising,' says Trudeau

Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Russia's decision "unfortunate but not surprising."

"The truth, responsible journalism, sharing what's actually going on with citizens is a deep threat to Vladimir Putin and his illegal war of authoritarian tendencies," Trudeau told reporters.

"Canada will always stand up for a free, strong independent press doing its work, of challenging and revealing what's going on in the world."

WATCH | Putin hiding 'horrible reality,'minister says:

Heritage minister reacts to news of Russia closing down CBC Moscow Bureau

2 years ago

Duration 1:45

Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez says he's grateful to Canadian journalists for their hard work and says Russian President Vladimir Putin took this action to hide 'the horrible reality going on in Ukraine.'

Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez drew a contrast between the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission's (CRTC) decision to remove RTfrom Canadian airwaves, and Russia's decision to shut down CBC's Moscow bureau.

"This is a totally independent decision by the CRTCI asked the CRTC to do an inquiry, to consult with Canadians, which they did for two weeks. They met with hundreds of people and they rendered a very detailed decision, a 7,000-word decision. That's what happens in Canada. In Russia, just like that, they kick out a journalist. Major difference," Rodriguez told reporters on Parliament Hill.

Global Affairs Canada tweeted that it was in contact with CBC/Radio-Canada, and that its officials and staff in Moscow"stand ready to assist them as needed."

Sanctions continue

Russia last month announced sanctions targeting 61 Canadians, including CBC president Catherine Tait and several journalists from other media outlets.

Canada on Tuesday introduced a bill in the Senate that will ban Putin and about1,000 members of his government and military from entering the country, as it continues to ratchet up sanctions over Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.

Many foreign journalists, as well as Russian journalists working for independent news outlets, have left Russia since March, after Putin signed the law imposing hefty prison terms for spreading intentionally "fake" news about the military.

Russian officials do not use the word "invasion" and say Western media outlets have provided a biasednarrative of the war in Ukraine that ignores Russia's concerns about the enlargement of NATO and alleged persecution of Russian-speakers.

Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov has repeatedly scolded the West for what he calls an undemocratic crackdown on Russian state media organizations that he says provided an alternative to Western narratives.

Putin casts the war as an inevitable confrontation with the United States, which he accuses of threatening Russia by meddling in its backyard and enlarging the North Atlantic Treaty Organizationmilitary alliance.

Ukraine says it is fighting an imperial-style land grab and that Putin's claims of genocide and persecution of Russian-speakers are nonsense.