Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly has summoned Russian Ambassador Oleg Stepanov on Monday to seek explanations for a series of anti-LGBT postings on the social networks of the Russian Embassy in Ottawa.
«As expected, the Russians have once again chosen hate propaganda. We absolutely cannot tolerate this rhetoric. This is an attack on Canadian values of acceptance and tolerance,» the minister said, as picked up by CBC.
With this appointment, it is the third time that Joly has summoned Stepanov so far this year.
During the last few days, the Russian diplomatic headquarters in Canada has been disseminating on Twitter and Telegram platforms publications in which it ensures that the West «is imposing family values» and that «families can only include a man, a woman and children», reports ‘The Globe and Mail’.
It has also accused the Canadian government of meddling in Russian affairs, while they have directly targeted Sports Minister Pascale St-Onge.
St-Onge, a member of the LGBT community, criticized the Russian legislation, calling it «homophobic propaganda» and an «attack on human rights». The Embassy has lashed out in response.
These tweets were published after the Russian Duma passed a law that toughens and expands punishments against those who disseminate LGTBI content.
The Russian government justified this reform in the need to combat «scourges such as pedophilia», but for human rights organizations this law has meant a further step in the repression against the LGTBI community.
Fines for LGTBI «propaganda» can reach 400,000 rubles (about 6,400 euros) in the case of ordinary citizens, or 800,000 rubles in the case of civil servants. In the case of entities, the penalty rises to 5 million (more than 79,000 euros), Interfax agency reported.
RUSSIA ASKS CANADA NOT TO INTERVENE IN ITS INTERNAL AFFAIRS The Russian ambassador has stated that Moscow expects Canada not to intervene in its internal affairs following criticism of the adoption of the anti-LGBT law.
Stepanov has related that he has explained to the Canadian authorities the essence of the «laws on preservation of traditional values» and «the basis of the state policy» of the country.
«I reminded that our country is the bearer and custodian of traditional values, that all four traditional religions are represented in our country,» he said, as reported by the Tass news agency.
In this regard, the Russian diplomat has maintained that «Western governments, including that of Canada, must respect the views on life of the majority of the population of Russia.»
Thus, Stepanov assured that the Canadian move to criticize the adoption of the law through the Foreign Ministry is «an interference in Russia’s internal affairs, as well as an attempt to influence the independent legislative process in a sovereign state».
