The Russian Federation banned comedian Jim Carrey and 99 other Canadians over their opposition to President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Also included in the ban was author Margaret Atwood, the creator of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” and other prominent Canadian politicians, business people, and celebrities.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday that the Canadian government would send another $500 million in military aid to Ukraine while adding 23 Russians to Canada’s sanctions list.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the 100 Canadians of being “directly involved in the formation of an aggressive anti-Russian course” in its statement about the ban.
“In response to the ongoing practice of imposing sanctions by the regime of Prime Minister J. Trudeau against the Russian leadership, politicians and parliamentarians, representatives of the business community, experts and journalists, cultural figures, as well as anyone whom the Canadian Russophobic authorities consider objectionable,” the statement read, “entry is closed on the basis of reciprocity for 100 Canadian citizens.”
In April, Carrey posted an endorsement of a documentary about Alexei Navalny, a political opposition figure in Russia.
“Navalny himself exposes Czar Putin and his soulless minions in their fiendish conspiracy to poison him, suppress the truth and intimidate the Russian people,” he tweeted.
Atwood was among more than 1,000 writers who signed an open letter in February condemning the invasion of Ukraine.
Russia’s invasion is in its eighth month and has suffered a major setback as Ukrainians have been able to push Russian soldiers out of the key city of Kherson. On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy made a surprise visit to the city and condemned Russia for what he said was evidence of over 400 war crimes.
U.S. officials have reportedly pressed Zelenskyy to negotiate peace terms with Russia, but his list of demands is unlikely to be agreed upon by Putin, who has repeatedly claimed Ukraine belongs to Russia.
Here’s more about the current state of the war:
Russia withdraws troops from Kherson, Ukraine
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