Canada PM Trudeau cites 'disinformation campaign' on Russian interference

The idea of Russian interference arose after Global Affairs said it has expelled Russian diplomats who used their status to interfere into Canada's democracy.

Reacting to the development, Trudeau has accused Russian propagandist of trying to discredit Freeland.

Trudeau has been quoted by Canoe.com,  "We all can remember the efforts by Russian propagandists to discredit our minister of foreign affairs in various ways through social media and by sharing scurrilous stories about her."

"There are multiple ways in which Russia uses cyber, social media, propaganda to sway public opinion, to try and push a pro-Russia narrative. This is a pattern we have seen regularly.”

Canada had decided to expel four Russian diplomatic staff, posted at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Ottawa on the same issue.

On Mar 28, Freeland said in a statement, "The four have been identified as intelligence officers or individuals who have used their diplomatic status to undermine Canada's security or interfere in our democracy."

Theresa May, British Prime Minister had reportedly said her government had concluded that that Russia was probably responsible for the attack on Skripal, a former Russian spy, and his daughter in Salisbury.

Canada's decision, Freeland said, was in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and on Consular Relations as well as diplomatic action taken by the U.S. and several European Union (EU) nations.

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump had reportedly discussed over phone on Monday and said measures taken by Canada and the United States were to support their common ally against Russia in response to the nerve agent attack in Salisbury.

The U.S. administration sent a message on Monday to Russia's leaders that it would be expelling 60 Russian diplomats and ordering the closure of Russia's consulate in Seattle in response to the attack.

This action was condemned by Russia, who threatened to retaliate against Canada.

A statement by Russian embassy in Ottawa was issued on Twitter saying that Canada's decision was both "deplorable and outrageous."

Freeland stated that Canada was "taking these measures in solidarity with the United Kingdom,"

"For national security reasons I can't get into that," Canada's Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said.