Below is a personal statement by Marcus Kolga, founder of DisinfoWatch, who in 2022 was among the first Canadians added to the Kremlin’s sanctions list for his work in advocating for sanctions against Russian human rights abusers, exposing regime disinformation and influence campaigns and for his support of Ukraine. He is a proud member of the policy advisor team at the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project. Marcus recently coauthored a report about Chinese government transnational repression targeting activists, journalists, elected officials, vulnerable communities and other critics of the regime’s mass human rights abuses.
I am deeply honored to be included on China’s sanctions list, a recognition that underscores the importance of the work being done to expose and confront authoritarian abuses, disinformation, and foreign interference. While these sanctions are intended to intimidate and silence critics, they instead serve as a badge of validation for those of us committed to defending human rights, democracy, and sovereignty.
This action by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is a clear signal of its intolerance for accountability and transparency. It comes as no surprise, as the CCP continues to target individuals and organizations that shine a light on its repressive policies, including the genocide of Uyghurs, the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong, the persecution of Tibetans and Falun Gong practitioners, and its transnational repression of diaspora communities around the world. These sanctions are a stark reminder of the lengths to which the Chinese government will go to suppress dissent, both at home and abroad.
In Canada, the CCP has actively sought to undermine our democracy through disinformation campaigns, interference in our elections, and harassment of members of the Uyghur, Tibetan, Hong Kong, Taiwanese, and Chinese-Canadian communities. These sanctions are likely an attempt to distract from the growing global awareness of these activities and the mounting calls for accountability.
Being sanctioned only strengthens my resolve to continue this work. Canada must not be cowed by these authoritarian tactics. Instead, we must redouble our efforts to implement robust measures, such as a Foreign Influence Transparency Registry, to protect Canadians from foreign interference. It is also critical to support initiatives that counter disinformation and promote media literacy to build societal resilience against propaganda campaigns.
I am grateful for the support of colleagues, allies, and human rights defenders around the world who stand united in the face of these challenges. Together, we will continue to amplify the voices of those oppressed by authoritarian regimes and work tirelessly to uphold the values of freedom, democracy, and justice.
Sanctions like these will not deter me—or any of us—from speaking truth to power. They are a reminder that the fight for human dignity and freedom is as vital as ever, and it is a fight we cannot afford to lose.
Official Global Times statement about sanctions against Canadians:
http://web.archive.org/web/20241222144801/https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202412/1325545.shtml
