A Canadian Rep Reportedly Attended A Russian Embassy Party In Ottawa & People Are So Mad
The Minister of Foreign Affairs calls it "unacceptable."
A Canadian representative reportedly attended a Russia Day party on Friday, and Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs is calling it downright "unacceptable."
On June 10, the Embassy of Russia held an event celebrating a national holiday that marks the country's constitutional reform in 1990. However, outrage erupted online when the Globe and Mail reported that Canada's Global Affairs Deputy Chief of Protocol, Yasemin Heinbecker, had attended the event.
Some people took to social media calling Canada's presence at the event embarrassing and "wrong" given Russia's recent invasion of Ukraine.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly called the Canadian official's presence "unacceptable" in a Tweet on Sunday evening, and said that no other Canadian representative will attend a similar event again.
"No Canadian representative should have attended the event hosted at the Russian embassy & no Canadian representative will attend this kind of event again," Jolly said in a Tweet. "Canada continues to stand with Ukraine as it fights against Russia’s egregious invasion."
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress condemned Canada's representation at the party.
"That our government would send officials to a celebration at the Russian embassy is appalling to us as Canadians and offensive to us as Ukrainians," they wrote in a Tweet.
In a statement to the Globe and Mail, Vladimir Proskuryakov, deputy chief of mission at the embassy, said they appreciated Ms. Heinbecker "honouring" their reception.
“We believe diplomacy is an all-weather instrument and diplomatic protocol is an important part of upkeeping the bilateral communications,” he added.
Earlier in June, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson refused the Embassy of Russia's request to fly the Russian flag at Ottawa City Hall.
"I have rejected the Russian embassy’s request to fly their flag at Ottawa City Hall for their Independence Day on June 12," Mayor Watson said in a tweet on June 1. "I indicated that until the Russian army leaves Ukraine we will not have anything to do with the Russian government and their illegal invasion."
Watson's rejection to fly the Russian flag came after the City of Ottawa received a request on February 23. The Russian embassy also asked the City to illuminate the City's heritage building in honour of Russia Day, which was also refused.
Narcity reached out to Yasemin Heinbecker and the Russian embassy for comment but did not hear back before this story went to press.