Canadian news website network disseminating pro-Kremlin views: research

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As Canada has launched an investigation into Russia’s interference, influence campaigns, and disinformation, we have researched which Canada-based news websites spread pro-Kremlin narratives and quote Russian state propaganda media that are under sanctions in the West. 

We also identified the Canadian outlets that share backlinks with the rrn.media domain, seized by US authorities, and the pro-Russian outlet Voice of Europe, which was at the center of the EU’s investigation into Russian interference in the European elections and subsequently banned.

Recently, in Canada, following the unanimous adoption of a motion to investigate the latest wave of Russia-driven interference and disinformation campaigns, Canada’s Safety and National Security members held a hearing with the participation of researchers of Russian influence networks. 

We also explored key narratives spread by pro-Russian news websites in Canada. The findings of our analysis partially align with the conclusions of previous research, such as the reports by DisinfoWatch, Canadian Digital Media Research, and Russia’s Weaponization of Canada’s Far Right and Far Left to Undermine Support for Ukraine.

We found and monitored Kremlin storylines that frequently appeared in statements made by Russian officials and on state-controlled media outlets such as RT and Sputnik.

The identified Canadian websites mainly focus on criticizing the EU, portraying Ukraine and its Western allies in a negative light, exchanging mutual quotations, and citing Russian state propaganda media platforms, including Sputnik, Russia Today, RIA, and the sanctioned Voice of Europe and RRN. See the list below.

  • globalizacion.ca
  • globalresearch.ca
  • les7duquebec.net
  • mondialisation.ca
  • nouveau-monde.ca
  • presse.fiatlux.tk
  • vigile.quebec

Our research into pro-Kremlin news online outlets in France previously flagged anti-Western / pro-Russian content from French-language websites. French-language websites primarily target French-speaking audiences in Canada, particularly in Quebec. In addition, Russian news websites, under sanctions in the EU, such as ria.ru, also generate views in Canada among Russian-speaking audiences. 

They also share and cite content from Russian state propaganda outlets in French, such as fr.sputniknews.africa and francais.rt.com. These France-based websites also generate views among Canadians.

  • lesmoutonsenrages.fr
  • reseauinternational.net
  • egaliteetreconciliation.fr
  • geopolitique-profonde.com
  • lesakerfrancophone.fr
  • resistancerepublicaine.com
  • tribune-diplomatique-internationale.com
  • fr.sott.net

The analyzed websites often quote one another, reference Russian sources, publish nearly identical topics, and exchange hyperlinks. This interactive infographic displays the mutual links.

We have conducted an analysis of the preferred news topics and discovered that the predominant narratives strongly suggest that the Kremlin is attempting to exert influence over the minds of Canadians.

Top narratives in pro-Russian outlets in Canada

In Canada, pro-Russian media sources disseminate disinformation, Kremlin narratives, and anti-Nato and anti-US content. Certain websites consistently display quotes from Russian sources and provide links to other websites that support Russia, while others feature remarks made by officials such as Putin, Lavrov, and others. Their main objective is to weaken Western support for Ukraine and advance Russian narratives in Canada.

Narrative 1: “Ukrainians are neo-Nazis”

Russian propaganda is trying to vilify Ukrainians and push Western democracies to reduce or stop providing military support to Kyiv by accusing them of neo-Nazism, a longstanding Kremlin talking point already debunked. 

In this way, Russian and pro-Russian propaganda also diverts attention from the fact that it was the Putin’s regime that started the aggressive and neocolonial war against a sovereign state, in violation of international law.

By creating an image of a hideous enemy, the Kremlin is also trying to justify its military aggression. Weaker support for Ukraine means higher chances for Russia to capture and occupy more Ukrainian territories.

  • link: https://www.globalizacion.ca/que-falta-para-llamar-dictador-a-zelensky/
  • quote: “Ukraine had been in the midst of a five-year civil war, triggered by the sending of army troops against the towns of Donetsk and Luhansk after they rebelled against a coup that ousted an elected president and imposed a dictatorship on the country.”
  • link: https://www.mondialisation.ca/lideologie-neonazie-en-ukraine-pose-des-problemes-a-la-cooperation-entre-kiev-et-varsovie/5692947
  • quote: “Since Ukraine has engaged in confrontation with Russia to protect Western interests, the regime demands endless aid, constantly maintaining the war effort to allow it to survive Russian military pressure. That is why there will never be any sign of “gratitude” for the help of Poland or any other country.”
  • link: https://www.globalizacion.ca/ucrania-una-derrota-disimulada/
  • quote: «In February, it will be two years since the start of the Russian Special Operation in Ukraine. Since then, Moscow has controlled one-fifth of its neighbour’s territory and has annexed the Donbas region in the framework of a referendum promoted by Russian-speakers who had been killed by the Ukronazi bombings.»

Narrative 2: Shifting the blame for the war from Russia to the West

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Kremlin’s military propaganda has been trying to shift the responsibility for the war on the West and Ukraine. For this purpose, Russian propaganda sites and pro-Russian media in the West use fake news and manipulative publications. In this way, the Putin’s regime aims to weaken the West’s response to its own war of aggression against Ukraine. 

  • link: https://www.globalresearch.ca/has-president-putins-patience-reached-its-limits%e2%80%a8/5865408
  • quote: “The Kiev forces of about 11,600 under the guidance of NATO troops have not managed to conquer the city of Kurchatov and its nuclear power plant. Apparently, President Zelensky used all of Kiev’s remaining troops, plus extra Polish (NATO) forces.”
  • link: https://les7duquebec.net/archives/294403
  • quote: “A more accurate name for what the United States is engaged in is the  Anglo-American-Zionist Empire, whose goal for more than a century, as we will analyze, has been the total conquest of the world.”
  • link: https://presse.fiatlux.tk/2024/09/30/sakerfrancophone/les-globalistes-tentent-dintensifier-la-guerre-en-ukraine-pour-en-faire-une-troisieme-guerre-mondiale-avant-les-elections-americaines/
  • quote: “Whether Putin is acting in Russia’s interests or not is not really important. The war was inevitable anyway because NATO made it impossible to avoid.”
  • link: https://presse.fiatlux.tk/2024/09/26/egaliteetreconciliation/face-a-la-menace-atlantiste-la-russie-renforce-sa-doctrine-nucleaire/
  • quote: “With the slow but persistent transformation of the conflict in Ukraine into a conventional war that could become high-intensity, Russia sees itself obliged to strengthen its nuclear doctrine. Not to strike Western countries, as Atlanticist propaganda claims, but precisely so that its nuclear doctrine can fully play its role of deterrence.”

Narrative 3: “The West is in decline, a new order is being built by BRICS”

Russian propaganda has been spreading narratives about the alleged decline of the West and the transition to a new world order with multipolarity, where the BRICS states, in particular China and Russia, play a key role, for many years. Such messages have been spreading long before the full-scale invasion in February 2022. In this way, the Kremlin is trying to sow discord and chaos in Western democracies and undermine confidence in their elected governments. 

  • link: https://www.globalizacion.ca/rusia-china-e-iran-constructores-de-un-mundo-multipolar/
  • quote: “Thus, Russia, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and other countries can today be considered in various fields, not only in oil and raw materials, but also in economic-productive and commercial fields in general, an important instrument of opposition to the unipolarity of the US imperialist camp.”

Narrative 4: “Russia fights NATO troops in Ukraine”

After Russian propaganda promised to capture Kyiv in two days and then two weeks, Moscow is looking for excuses for the failure of its so-called “special operation.” The simplest excuse is that almost the entire world is fighting against Russia. 

However, in reality, only the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which use some modern Western weapons provided by the allies, are confronting the Russian invaders. Only foreign volunteers who joined the Ukrainian Army are on the ground, not any official forces. By faking the presence of French troops in Ukraine, the Kremlin creates a pretext for itself to resort to threats.

  • link: https://www.globalizacion.ca/por-que-la-contraofensiva-de-la-otan-en-ucrania-ha-sido-un-fracaso
  • quote: “So far, NATO troops have only come close to the first line in the Verbove area, but it has not been breached. Imagine what it would take to break through the 5 defensive lines, each one more reinforced than the last.”
  • link: https://www.globalresearch.ca/ever-widening-war-pcr/5866109
  • quote: “The Kremlin has an amazing inability to confront reality. Peter Koenig explains that NATO has now invaded Russia by entering Kursk, and the Kremlin still pretends it is involved in a limited border conflict with Ukraine in Donbas.”

Narrative 5: Conspiracy over immigration

Immigration has become one of the priority targets for Russian propaganda to sow discord in Western societies and provoke internal conflicts. Simultaneously, pro-Russian websites actively promote right-wing radical parties, who are using anti-immigrant slogans to drive their campaigns.

The Ukrainian refugees and immigrants from Latin America are the target of pro-Russian propaganda websites in Canada. On the other hand, in Europe, the pro-Russian propaganda websites primarily target immigrants from Muslim countries.

  • link: https://vigile.quebec/articles/la-diversite-un-mal-non-necessaire
  • quote: “Diversity is an unnecessary evil, a conceptual weakness, a misleading and harmful view of the mind, which spreads the limited third world in the advanced Western countries. 36 examples will amply demonstrate this.”
  • link: https://nouveau-monde.ca/kamala-harris-et-ses-collaborateurs-preparent-des-pogroms-de-masse-des-partisans-de-trump-avec-laide-dimmigres-illegaux-et-dukrainiens-importes/
  • quote: “Human rights activists from the Foundation to Combat Injustice have been able to establish how, with the help of specially hired and trained refugees from Ukraine and illegal migrants from Latin American drug cartels, Democrats led by Harris aim to unleash a wave of violence against Trump supporters in order to intimidate them, crush their resistance, and destroy the MAGA movement and its leaders.”

Has Lauren Chen been a pro-Russia influence actor?

However, the pro-Kremlin influence extends beyond online news outlets with relatively small audiences. We have also verified the activities of a crucial influencer. Lauren Chen is a Canadian far-right conservative political commentator; she has also contributed opinion pieces to RT, a Russian state media. Her videos focused on various political and social issues from a conservative viewpoint, including critiques of liberal policies and immigration.

A US federal indictment published in September accused Tenet Media of receiving funding and direction from a covert operation funded by Russia to disseminate pro-Russian narratives in the US.

On January 19, 2022, nearly one month before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Chen co-founded Tenet Media with her husband, Liam Donovan. In January 2023, Chen allegedly received a contract from RT to hire other commentators for this media as part of RT’s efforts to influence public opinion in the United States.

Chen began contributing to RT, a Russian state media outlet with articles, back in 2021. According to the US federal indictment, Chen, identified as “Founder-1,” was allegedly compensated by RT to produce and post over 200 videos on her personal YouTube channel without revealing the source of funding.

The indictment alleged that Russian state propaganda media RT funneled nearly $10 million to Tenet Media to create and distribute content favorable to Kremlin interests, aimed at amplifying American domestic divisions. The indictment specifically named Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, employees of RT, as the main operatives behind the funding.

Lauren Chen has 585k followers on X (https://x.com/thelaurenchen). After reviewing her tweets, we concluded that her stance was more pro-Russian, as she praised Putin during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a dictator wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes. 

She praised Russian leader Putin for his interview with Tucker Curlson, another pro-Russian media star: “Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, gave a two-hour dissertation on Russia’s history and its place on the world stage,” she wrote. Source: https://x.com/TheLaurenChen/status/1755781950177263655.

In another post, Lauren Chen called Putin’s actions reasonable, in 2023 during Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. She wrote: “What Putin wants actually seems pretty reasonable in regard to Ukraine, especially considering all the lives and resources lost as a result of the war and the US/UK nuking peace talks.” Source: https://x.com/TheLaurenChen/status/1726053059208315061

Pro-Russian websites impact in Canada

According to monthly traffic data (SimilarWeb data), very few of these websites account for more than a small percentage of Canada’s total online news audience. This implies that Russian propaganda is encountering resistance in Canadian society. 

However, the pro-Russian websites hosted on.ca domains continue to receive approximately 750 thousand unique views each month.

WebsiteMonthly visits (in av. over last 12 months)
rt.com2 000 000,00
ria.ru500 000,00
sputnikglobe.com325 000,00
francais.rt.com118 000,00
egaliteetreconciliation.fr107 000,00
globalresearch.ca80 000,00
lesakerfrancophone.fr58 000,00
nouveau-monde.ca57 000,00
mondialisation.ca40 000,00
lesmoutonsenrages.fr33 000,00
reseauinternational.net25 000,00
fr.sputniknews.africa18 000,00
vigile.quebec10 000,00
fr.sott.net3 500,00
geopolitique-profonde.com3 500,00
voiceofeurope.com2 000,00
les7duquebec.net1 000,00
resistancerepublicaine.com1 000,00
globalizacion.ca1 000,00
presse.fiatlux.tk500,00
Monthly views generated by Russian and pro-Russian news websites in Canada.
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Moreover, Russian state propaganda media (RT and Sputnik in English and French languages) together with Ria-Novosti (banned in the EU) gather around 3 million monthly views, according to SimilarWeb data. This demonstrates the continued effectiveness of the Kremlin’s influence in Canada.

This research has been conducted by our experts in collaboration with the Ukrainian TV channel Espreso Global.

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