To counter the Kremlin’s disinformation campaign, Canada has imposed additional sanctions against 29 state-sponsored disinformation and propaganda agents and 15 entities controlled or owned by the Russian government and involved in disinformation efforts. This includes Sumbatovich Gasparyan, the Head of the International Department at Russia Today (RT) state media holding, Patriarch Kirill (Vladimir Gundyaev), former head of Yandex Tigran Khudaverdyan, head of the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Maksut Shadayev, representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova, and head of the Russia Television and Radio Oleg Dobrodeev. In addition, several Russian TV channels and organizations were sanctioned, including Roskomnadzor and Rossotrudnichestvo. This was reported in a statement published on the website of the Government of Canada.

The country also imposed personal sanctions against several journalists and TV presenters. Among them are Ekaterina Andreeva, Alexey Pimanov, Artyom Sheinin, Tigran Keosayan, Olga Skabeeva, Anton Krasovsky and Arkady Mamontov.

Sanctions against organizations have also been expanded. Mostly Russian media are among them: Perviy (Channel One), Rossiya 1 and Rossiya 24 (both RTR), NTV, TASS, Vesti.ru, RT, Sputnik and Regnum. In addition, Gazprom Media and the National Media Group were sanctioned.

Canada already imposed several rounds of sanctions against Russia due to the special military operation in Ukraine. In particular, at the end of May, the country included the chairman of the board of directors of the National Media Group Alina Kabaeva, the ex-wife of billionaire Mikhail Fridman Olga Aiziman and his daughters Laura and Katya Fridman, in the sanctions list.

In April, Russia imposed sanctions on 61 Canadian citizens. Among them are senior government officials, active and retired military personnel, representatives of the expert community and leading media involved in the development, justification and implementation of the Russophobic course in the country. They are banned from entering Russia indefinitely.