Russia closes CBC bureau in Moscow

Russia cancelling visas of CBC journalists

The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry has announced that it is to close the Moscow bureau of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). It will also withdraw visas for CBC journalists. The move follows the banning of Russia’s international TV channels RT English and RT France in March from being distributed in Canada. 

“With regret we continue to notice open attacks on the Russian media from the countries of the so-called collective West who call themselves civilised,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.

“A decision has been taken to make retaliatory, I underscore retaliatory, measures in relation to the actions of Canada: the closure of the Moscow bureau of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, including the annulation of the accreditations and visas of their journalists.”

In April, Russia imposed sanctions against Catherine Tait, President of CBC and Michael Melling, VP News at CTV News, preventing them – and a range of politicians and business people – from visiting Russia.

Photo: CBC correspondent Briar Stewart on the rooftop of CBC’s Moscow bureau on Oct. 5, 2021. (CBC)