Nine Russian soldiers who were participating in military exercises in Canada have been expelled from the country, as Ottawa continues to denounce Russia鈥檚 military intervention in Crimea, 麻豆传媒 has learned.
A government source confirmed that the soldiers were informed Thursday afternoon that they had 24 hours to leave Canada.
Six of the soldiers were in Saint-Jean, Que., where they were learning English and French. Another two soldiers were participating in a training program at 5 CDSB Gagetown, and the ninth soldier was teaching Canadian soldiers Russian in Gatineau, Que.
The move comes days after Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that all planned bilateral activities between the Canadian Armed Forces and the military of the Russian Federation are suspended, including exercises such as NORAD's Exercise Vigilant Eagle.
On Thursday, Harper said the government would not recognize the results of a referendum in Crimea on whether to join Russia because the region is 鈥渃urrently under illegal military occupation.鈥�
Lawmakers in Crimea voted unanimously Thursday to leave Ukraine and join Russia. They have scheduled a referendum for March 16 so voters can weigh in on the decision.
The vote was denounced by the international community. In his statement, Harper once again criticized Russia鈥檚 incursion into the Crimean peninsula as 鈥渁n act of aggression, a clear violation of Ukraine鈥檚 sovereignty, and of international law.
鈥淐anada will not recognize a referendum held in a region currently under illegal military occupation. We will continue to view the situation in Ukraine with the gravest concern and will continue to cooperate closely with our G-7 partners and like-minded allies,鈥� the prime minister said in a statement.
Later, after question period, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said 鈥測ou can鈥檛 have a valid referendum in 10 days.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 unacceptable and it鈥檚 wrong and we won鈥檛 recognize it,鈥� he told reporters in the foyer of the House of Commons.
The international community has been grappling with how to respond to Russia鈥檚 decision last weekend to move troops into Crimea in what Russian President Vladimir Putin described as a strategic move to protect both military interests and Russian-speakers in the region. World leaders and diplomats decried his rationale and weighed options for a response.
On Wednesday, Harper announced that Canada will send two representatives to join an international military observer mission to Crimea, as well as freeze assets of members of former president Viktor Yanukovych鈥檚 regime.
He also said Canada is suspending its participation in a joint commission to promote economic co-operation between the two countries, and is considering what financial aid it can offer to Ukraine.
On Thursday, Ukraine鈥檚 interim prime minister called the vote by Crimea鈥檚 lawmakers illegitimate, and a European Union official suggested that the West would not recognize the referendum鈥檚 result.
"This is our response to the disorder and lawlessness in Kyiv," said Sergei Shuvainikov, a member of the Crimean legislature. "We will decide our future ourselves."
Crimean voters will be given the option of voting 鈥測es鈥� or 鈥渘o鈥� to joining Russia, or of choosing a third option to remain part of Ukraine but with 鈥渆nhanced powers.鈥�
Russia says if Crimean voters elect to join Russia, legislation would be introduced to speed up the process.
Baird said Canada will continue to work with 鈥渇riends and like-minded allies鈥� to get Russia to reverse course.
When asked about concerns of right-wing elements in the interim Ukrainian government, Baird said Canada is encouraging the new government 鈥渢o be fully representative of the diversity of the whole country.鈥�
鈥淚 raised Canada鈥檚 concern about anti-Semitism, and said that all political leaders, whether they be in government or in opposition, should try to build a pluralistic Ukraine.鈥�
With a report by CTV鈥檚 Ottawa deputy bureau chief Laurie Graham and files from The Associated Press
