Photo: EPA/UPG
Canadian Vice Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland has condemned the screening of the documentary Russians at War at the Toronto International Film Festival.
This was reported by CBC.
Speaking to journalists, Freeland expressed support for the criticism voiced by Kyiv and the Ukrainian Canadian community regarding the film:
«Ukrainian diplomats and the Ukrainian Canadian community have raised very serious concerns about this film, and I want to say that I share them.»
The politician also criticized the use of Canadian public funds to support the screening and production of such a film.
Freeland further addressed comments made by the film’s author, Anastasia Trofimova. Trofimova described Russians at War as an «anti-war film.» Freeland emphasized that in the context of the war against Ukraine, equating the victim with the aggressor is unacceptable.
«This is a war in which Russia is violating international law and committing war crimes. In this war, there is a clear distinction between good and evil. Ukrainians are fighting for their sovereignty and for democracy worldwide», — the Vice Prime Minister stressed.
Earlier, the Ukrainian State Film Agency condemned the inclusion of Russians at War in the Venice Film Festival program. They labeled it as «veiled Russian propaganda.» In their statement, they argued that the film portrays aggressors as victims. This serves as a dangerous tool for manipulating public opinion by attempting to shift responsibility for crimes committed by the Russian military.
The agency stressed that they view «any form of victimization or justification of aggression and war crimes by a terrorist state as absolutely unacceptable.»
They also warned that such actions not only distort reality but also threaten the international legal order and contribute to the spread of disinformation.