Staffing at Canada's embassy in Moscow falls to 'bare bones' level

Staffing at Canada's embassy in Moscow has dropped to a level so low that if Canada were to expel any Russian diplomats from this country, it could result in the Moscow embassy's closure.

Documents made public by the inquiry into foreign interference in Canada reveal that, as of July, Canada had only 17 diplomats left at its embassy in Russia — a level one expert describes as "bare bones" and one of the lowest levels seen in decades. Since then, it has dropped by even more.

"Canada currently has twelve diplomats in Russia, with some positions vacant, pending staffing," said Charlotte MacLeod, spokesperson for Global Affairs.

Russia has 68 accredited diplomats across Canada.

Ever since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, there have been calls for Canada to follow the lead of other countries by expelling Russian diplomats. In February 2023, the House of Commons foreign affairs committee recommended that "the Government of Canada expel Russian diplomats involved in any activities that are not consistent with their official diplomatic status."

The foreign interference inquiry has heard from witnesses who say Russian diplomats in Canada are engaging in disinformation campaigns with the goal of destabilizing Canadian society.

The Canadian government says it has slapped economic sanctions on more than 3,000 individuals and entities in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova since 2014, when Russia occupied Crimea.

It has not expelled any Russian diplomats since 2018, when it sent four Russian officials with diplomatic status home and refused to accredit three others following a nerve agent attack in the U.K. Russia responded by expelling four Canadian diplomats.

Testifying before the foreign interference inquiry last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked why Canada hasn't expelled any Russian diplomats over Russia's actions in Ukraine. He said it's important for Canada to have diplomats in Russia.

"I know for a fact that Canada's diplomatic presence in Russia is reaching a point at which, should it decrease much further, would be difficult to sustain at all and I believe that there is value in continuing to have Canadians in Russia as it continues to be such a bad actor on the world stage," Trudeau told the inquiry.

Earlier, the inquiry heard other witnesses testify that Canada is often reluctant to declare a foreign diplomat persona non grata and order them to leave the country because it often results in the country involved expelling Canadian diplomats. 

The Russian delegation in Canada likely could lose some diplomats and still be sustainable. Trudeau suggested that might not be the case for the Canadian delegation in Russia.

"The small number of Canadian diplomats currently in Russia [has] reached something close to a threshold where if we go any, or much, lower, we might not be able to have a diplomatic presence in Russia at all," he said.

"And we feel that we can do more for Ukraine and for the rules-based order in the world by continuing to be present in Russia as Canada always has, including through the Cold War."