NOTE: RT has been identified by Global Affairs Canada as an extension of Russian intelligence services.
Russian state media has published several articles and social media posts manipulating and exploiting the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland through the deployment of narratives that seek to dehumanize and incite hate towards Canadians of Ukrainian heritage.
The Claim:
A Russian state controlled media report about the resignation of former Deputy Prime Minister insinuates that “her resignation comes in the wake of new controversy surrounding her family’s past, particularly her grandfather’s ties to Nazi collaboration in Ukraine.”
The RT article falsely claims that “Freeland’s departure has reignited scrutiny of her family’s wartime past”.
The Facts:
Chrystia Freeland is an internationally respected former journalist who has held senior posts in Trudeau’s government for years. Her criticism of the Putin regime and leadership in building international support for sanctions and the repurposing of frozen Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine, Ms Freeland and her family background have become targets of Russian and Russian-aligned domestic Canadian disinformation and propaganda. Tactically, this includes the Kremlin’s well-worn tactic of manipulating history and accusing critics of neo-Nazism.
The article uses this narrative to imply that renewed scrutiny over her family’s history contributed to her resignation .
Narrative Context:
Undermining Western Officials with Ukrainian Ancestry
Russian-state or pro-Kremlin media repeatedly targets Western politicians of Ukrainian descent, distorting and weaponizing WWII-era history to brand them as “Nazis” or “Nazi collaborators.” Chrystia Freeland, who is of Ukrainian heritage and who has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine, is a prime target.
The article recycles sensational claims that Freeland is “whitewashing” history and is intended to reinforce the Kremlin disinformation narrative that key Western officials are covering up fascist ties.
Painting Canada as Politically Unstable
The exaggerated storyline of Freeland’s resignation fits into a broader trope of portraying NATO or G7 countries as facing severe internal crises. Presenting “policy disagreements” as a dramatic cabinet split underscores the narrative that Trudeau’s government is collapsing—a recurrent theme in Russian-state-backed outlets.
Information Laundering
By citing a mysterious “new book” about Ms. Freeland’s family history RT re-packages rumoured or fringe allegations into an article that can then be circulated as “news.” This technique launders disinformation through official-looking headlines, making it harder for readers to discern fact from fabrication.
