Canadian FM calls presence of its employee at Russian Embassy reception unacceptable

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly criticized an employee of her department who attended a reception at the Russian Embassy in Ottawa on the occasion of Russia Day. The Canadian media drew attention to the incident.

"This is unacceptable. No Canadian representative was supposed to attend the event that took place at the Russian Embassy, and no Canadian representative will attend such events again,” Ms Joly wrote on Twitter.

Russian Ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov called the minister's position unprofessional. “I am sure that Canadian career diplomats, experts at the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs understand that this is a common protocol practice. Mutual respect is needed even when we disagree, or the political leaders of our country have diametrically opposed approaches to some sensitive issues on the international agenda, this does not mean that diplomats should not work,” the ambassador said, Kommersant informs.

This is unacceptable. No Canadian representative should have attended the event hosted at the Russian embassy & no Canadian representative will attend this kind of event again.
🇨🇦 continues to stand with 🇺🇦 as it fights against Russia’s egregious invasion. https://t.co/azkvbhupiv pic.twitter.com/iZ2zRn1gJj

— Mélanie Joly (@melaniejoly) June 12, 2022