A “shameful visit” which “legitimizes the Putin regime”, believe the consul and the Quebec Congress of Ukrainians

The honorary consul of Ukraine in Montreal, Eugène Czolij, and the president of the Quebec Congress of Ukrainian Canadians, Michael Shwec, harshly condemn the visit of the Canadian staff to Saint Petersburg. While Czolij says it’s about legitimizing Vladimir Putin’s totalitarian and imperialist regime, Shwec also says he’s ashamed of the organization.

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“It’s awful. They went there to negotiate with this club which is run by people who finance Putin and his genocidal war. Anyone who does business with these people supports this war,” says Shwec, saying he is at a loss for words, on the other end of the line.

“I am ashamed of my Canadians,” adds the president of the association bringing together around 30,000 Ukrainians across the province. This club is going to lose its feathers.

Controversial situation

Recall that the general manager of the Habs, Kent Hughes, and his advisor, Vincent Lecavalier, are in Saint Petersburg to meet his valiant first round prospect in the 2024 auction, Ivan Demidov, and the management of the club with whom he would be at loggerheads since the start of the KHL campaign.

The SKA is owned by the gigantic state-owned gas and oil company Gazprom, founded by oligarch Viktor Chernomyrdin and close to Putin, targeted by international sanctions.

Demidov is also led by Roman Rotenberg, a young Russian oligarch also close to power, who appears in the photo which has been circulating on the web for several days in the company of Hughes, Lecavalier and Nick Bobrov. On the numerous videos broadcast by Rotenberg, we see the leaders of Sainte-Flanelle giving the “owner’s tour” of the facilities.

All these beautiful people are keeping an eye on the actions of the young and talented striker who also scored a goal in SKA’s victory today.

“When athletes, leaders and players in the sports world take photos with these people, it doesn’t work. It is certain that the Putin regime will use it. Rotenberg uses it in his communications. Sport is part of society. History will judge those who condone these actions.

Incomprehension

According to Mr. Czolij, the CH is making more than a huge blunder by setting foot in this country which has been attacking its own for almost three years.

“Currently, Russian forces continue their vicious bombardment of Ukraine’s civilian population and infrastructure, including hospitals and schools. In addition, Russian soldiers commit atrocious crimes, including forced transfers of children from Ukraine to Russia,” recalls the honorary consul.

“The international community, including the Parliament of Canada and the National Assembly of Quebec, condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” he adds.

“This kind of trip to Russia ignores this geopolitical reality and legitimizes the authoritarian and imperialist regime in Russia, while it is committing genocide in Ukraine,” says the man who is also a Montreal lawyer decorated with several professional and social distinctions.

In this regard, through her press secretary, the Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie, Martine Biron, did not wish to react on the subject. She claimed that this mission of the CH “relates to the private sector”.

A lack of leadership, notes Mr. Shwec about the government which says it supports the Ukrainian people.