Russian Envoy Says Sending Demarche to Trudeau to Condemn Murder of Tatarsky, Dugina

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Russian Ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov told Sputnik on Tuesday that he is sending a protest note to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in which he would demand that Ottawa condemns the murder of Russian military reporter Vladlen Tatarsky and journalist Daria Dugina.

"I am sending an official demarche to the Prime Minister of Canada demanding that the murder of Tatarsky and Dugina be condemned. The absence [of condemnation] will be considered by Russia as support for terrorism by the government of Canada," Stepanov said.

On Sunday, an explosive device went off in a St. Petersburg café killing Tatarsky and injuring 33 people. Russia's Investigative Committee said on Monday that Daria Trepova was detained on suspicion of involvement in the explosion. Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee said the Ukrainian special services and the supporters of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK, designated extremist organization and foreign agent, banned in Russia) planned the terrorist attack.

Last year, Russian journalist Daria Dugina, daughter of political philosopher Alexander Dugin, was killed in a car bombing, which the Kremlin tied to Ukraine’s special services.

Stepanov said he asked in the demarche whether the Canadian cabinet supports and is a sponsor of terrorism.

"If not, Justin Trudeau must: 1. Come out clearly condemning [the] Maksim Fomin (a.k.a Vladlen Tatarskiy) and Dasha Dugina murders in terrorist attacks. 2. Sack Canada’s UN Ambassador Robert Rae for acquitting and justifying terrorism."

Stepanov pointed out that Russia and Canada may disagree on political and ideological issues, but the reality that the two Russian journalists were killed in terrorist bombings is clear.

"Canada is a party to major international anti-terrorism conventions and must publicly state whether it supports combating terrorism or condones and allows its clients to conduct it," Stepanov said.

Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia said via Twitter that there was no reaction to the Tatarsky assassination from either the international community, the United Nations or from journalist organizations.

Nebenzia emphasized that there is a selective approach when assessing what happened to journalists "here and there."

Rae commented on Nebenzia's statement by claiming that Tatarsky was not a journalist but a "vitriolic propagandist" and a "spreader of hate and misinformation with a criminal record."

On Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Ukraine may be responsible for the attack in St. Petersburg. Peskov added that the Kiev regime supports terrorist attacks, which is one of the reasons why Russia is carrying out its special military operation in Ukraine.

The Russian Investigative Committee told Sputnik that the incident is being investigated as an act of terrorism.