Canada expels Russian diplomats over espionage case: report
Posted Jan 20, 2012 05:55:14 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Four Russian Embassy staffers have made a quick departure from Canada, and a report suggests they were expelled in connection with the espionage case unfolding in Halifax.
Russia denies the two diplomats and two technical staff were expelled, saying the four had simply finished their contract at the end of 2011 and were reassigned as part of their normal rotation.
The Globe and Mail reports the names were all listed on the Department of Foreign Affairs’ official list of diplomatic, consular and foreign government representatives recognized by Ottawa as of Jan. 18 but had been dropped by Jan. 19.
Their departure comes just days after Sub-Lt. Jeffrey Delisle was charged with communicating information to a “foreign entity.” He is due in a Halifax court Wednesday.
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird refused to comment on the matter as it is before the courts and the federal government has publicly refused to confirm or deny reports that the foreign power Delisle is accused of sharing information with could be Russia.
The consensus from experts is that Russia is the most likely foreign power to be involved, although they are not the only possibility.
“There are a number of players out there that it could be, not least of which are both China and Iran,” national security expert professor Arne Kislenko, at Ryerson University, tells News 95.7. “But it looks from all evidence that I’ve been reading and hearing that the Russians are the most likely culprit.”
Delisle, 40, spent almost his entire career in intelligence and, at one time, worked in the military’s nerve-centre at National Defence Headquarters, defence officials have said.
Court documents say one of the alleged offences happened between July 6, 2007, and Jan. 13, 2012, while the other is alleged to have happened between Jan. 10, 2012, and Jan. 13, 2012.
Delisle also faces a breach of trust charge under the Criminal Code for an incident that allegedly occurred between July 6, 2007, and Jan. 13, 2012.
All the offences are alleged to have happened in or near Halifax, Ottawa and Kingston, Ont.
