Canada announces new sanctions against Chinese, Russian officials

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly speaks during a press conference in Ottawa, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press)

Past and present senior Chinese officials, as well as Russian officials and collaborators, are the subjects of new human rights sanctions, the Canadian government said Tuesday.

Eight Chinese individuals are allegedly “involved in grave human rights violations,” according to a news release.

“The sanctions announced today respond to Chinese government-led repression of ethnic and religious minorities in China, including in Xinjiang, Tibet and against those who practise Falun Gong,” alleged Global Affairs Canada.

The government also said it will sanction others who play a part in Russia’s “systematic and widespread use of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment against detained Ukrainian citizens, including prisoners of war and civilians.”

They are officials from, and collaborators with, the Federal Penitentiary Service, the Federal Security Service, and the National Guard of Russia (Rosgvardia), according to another release.

The sanctions essentially freeze the assets of the affected individuals. They also prohibit Canadians from engaging “in any activity related to any property” or providing financial “or related” services to them.

Past and present Chinese officials include:

Russian officials and alleged collaborators include: