The statement of Canada’s House of Commons (lower parliament house) labelling Russia’s actions in Ukraine as genocide can be interpreted as a gesture of primitive Russophobia, Russian Ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov told TASS on Wednesday.
“It is mere labelling. It is an absolutely hollow and politically void gesture based on primitive Russophobia,” he said, adding that the Canadian lawmakers should study the legal definition of the term ‘genocide.’
“It is inadmissible and cynical to fling about, out of political motives, such terms as ‘genocide,’ which have clear legal definition and which are filled with grief and the history of well-known tragedies,” he stressed.
According to the Russian diplomat, this statement will “have no influence on the situation in Ukraine.” Apart from that, it tells adversely “on the reputation of the House of Commons,” he added.
Earlier on Wednesday, Canada’s House of Commons unilaterally supported the initiative advanced by Heather McPherson, a member of parliament with the opposition New Democratic Party, to consider Russia’s actions in Ukraine as genocide of the Ukrainian people.
According to CTV, Prime Minister Justine Trudeau, who is a parliament member and the leader of the Liberal Party, attended a House of Commons meeting on Wednesday. However, it is not known whether he was present during the voting on this matter. This parliamentary initiative doesn’t mean however that Canada officially recognizes Russia’s actions in Ukraine as genocide.
This word concerning Russia’s operation in Ukraine was earlier pronounced by US President Joe Biden. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said commenting on it that the Kremlin categorically objects against such pronouncements. TASS
