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Russian Embassy in Canada Slams State Broadcaster for Disinformation on COVID-19 Efforts

TORONTO (Sputnik) - The Russian Embassy in Canada slammed the state-funded Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) for spreading misinformation about Russia’s efforts to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Sputnik

The statement comes in response to the article "'This situation is very scary': Coronavirus is disrupting Vladimir Putin's Russia" that was published earlier on Thursday.

"Low-level propaganda by state media coverage of Russia's anti-COVID-19 efforts: presenting dire picture by quoting doubtful sources, disinforming intentionally to make public believe there're places even worse in terms of a pandemic than at home", the Russian embassy said via Twitter on Thursday evening.

The article suggested that Russia is covering up the COVID-19-related death toll, an accusation leveled at several countries by western media outlets.

The Russian Embassy characterized CBC’s disinformation efforts as being "weak and irresponsible".

The statement comes a week after the Chinese Embassy in Canada slammed another of the country’s media outlets - The Globe and Mail - for similar activities with respect to Beijing’s efforts to contain COVID-19.

The Russian and Chinese missions have discussed and strongly condemned efforts to politicize the COVID-19 pandemic.

Russia has reported 106,498 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,073 virus-related deaths, while Canada has confirmed 52,056 COVID-19 cases and 3,082 virus-related fatalities.

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