The Social Media Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University is deeply concerned by Russia’s announcement of sanctions against 28 Canadian citizens, including our researchers Anatoliy Gruzd and Philip Mai, on the baseless claims that their research promotes “neo-Nazism” and supports anti-Russian activism. The list also includes Robert Bains, head of the Canadian NATO Association; Victoria Karpyak, chair of the Ukrainian National Fund’s Board of Directors; members of the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada; researchers studying the Holodomor; and activists involved in fundraising for Ukraine.
The Russian Foreign Ministry, in a statement released on Monday, January 5th, imposed an indefinite entry ban on the individuals, accusing them of advancing what it calls the “criminal neo-Nazi ideology” espoused by the Kyiv government. The ministry claimed the targeted individuals are involved in pro-Bandera organizations and have distorted historical facts about the Great Patriotic War to bolster Canada’s alignment with radical nationalist forces in Ukraine.
Gruzd and Mai were targeted for their work maintaining conflictmisinfo.org, a research portal that tracks and analyzes disinformation, propaganda, and misinformation related to the Russia-Ukraine war. The platform provides open-access tools and resources to journalists, policymakers, and the public to promote transparency and fact-based understanding of the conflict. Our researchers categorically reject these baseless charges.
The Russian government’s decision comes shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Canadian former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland as an economic adviser. Russia cited this appointment as evidence of Canada’s deeper entanglement with “radical nationalist” forces in Ukraine. We also note that the sanctions are a response to Canada’s own sanctions against Russia, including measures targeting energy revenues, financial enablers, and shadow fleet vessels, actions taken in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Social Media Lab condemns the Russian government’s targeting of academic researchers and independent scholars engaged in fact-based, transparent research. We reaffirm our commitment to documenting misinformation and fact-checking in conflict zones, regardless of political pressure or retaliation. Academic freedom and the pursuit of truth must be protected, especially in times of war.
The Social Media Lab stands with all researchers, journalists, and civil society actors who face intimidation or retaliation for their work in defence of information integrity, transparency, and democratic values.