Russia Denies Ottawa Embassy Staff Were Expelled

Jan. 19, 2012

The foreign ministry denied reports Friday that four staff members from the Russian embassy in Ottawa had been expelled by Canada for spying.

“The messages from Canadian press regarding the expulsion of Russian diplomats from Canada are surprising, since they left the country in 2011 upon concluding their stints,” the foreign ministry said on their Twitter account.

Canadian outlet CTV News reported late on Thursday that four Russian embassy staff members had been expelled from Canada over accusations of espionage in connection with a military intelligence leak.

The news came days after a Canadian naval intelligence officer was charged with passing secrets to a foreign government, reportedly Russia.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue