Russian Media Figures and Outlets Sanctioned

Summary#

The government added a list of Russian media figures and media organisations to Canada’s sanctions list under the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations, effective July 8, 2022. The change forbids most dealings with the named people and entities (an asset‑freeze / broad dealings ban).

What it does#

• Repeals Item 796 in Part 1 of Schedule 1 and adds new listings to Schedule 1.
• Adds the following individuals to the schedule:
  • Alexander Yevgenievich Lebedev
  • Aleksei Viktorovich Pimanov
  • Andrei Vitalyevich Ilyashenko
  • Armen Sumbatovich Gasparyan
  • Artyom Grigoryevich Sheynin
  • Dmitry Yevgenevich Kulikov
  • Maksut Igorevich Shadayev
  • Vladimir Nikolayevich Sungorkin
  • Oleg Borisovich Dobrodeev
  • Sergey Vladimirovich Mikhailov
  • Tigran Edmondovich Keosayan
  • Olga Vladimirovna Skabeyeva
  • Modest Alexeyevich Kolerov
  • Roman Georgievich Babayan
  • Yevgeniy Nikolaevich Prilepin
  • Anton Vyacheslavovich Krasovsky
  • Arkady Viktorovich Mamontov
  • Alexey Lvovich Nikolov
  • Anton Sergeyevich Anisimov
  • Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova
  • Irina Vladimirovna Volk
• Adds the following entities (mostly media and state information organisations):
  • Channel One Russia JSC
  • Television Station Russia-1
  • NTV Broadcasting Company JSC
  • Russotrudnichestvo
  • TASS
  • The All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK)
  • Gazprom Media
  • National Media Group
  • Rossiya-24 TV Channel
  • Smotrim
  • Vesti.Ru
  • RT
  • Sputnik
• The regulatory note says one individual is being delisted and relisted to revise the stated reason for listing.
• The listings are applied immediately on registration (they “come into force on the day on which they are registered”) and the rules may apply before Gazette publication.

Who's affected#

• The people and organisations named above are directly affected; their property and most dealings in Canada are prohibited.
• Canadian banks and other financial institutions — they must screen for the new names and block or freeze transactions that involve them.
• Canadian businesses and individuals that might try to trade with, provide services to, or transfer funds or goods to the listed persons or entities.
• Enforcement and government bodies involved in implementing the sanctions, such as Global Affairs Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Canada Border Services Agency (for tracking and enforcement).
• It is unclear (from this notice) how often ordinary Canadians will encounter these specific names in everyday life; most impact is on entities that would have financial or goods/services dealings with the listed parties.

Why it matters#

• The listing imposes an asset-freeze and bans dealings with listed persons and entities. That limits their access to funds and services in Canada, and discourages Canadian businesses from working with them.
• The stated goal is to target Russian state-controlled media and propaganda figures to reduce the spread of state-sponsored disinformation and to increase pressure on Russia over its actions in Ukraine.
• Non‑compliance carries penalties: on summary conviction a fine of up to $25,000 or up to one year in prison (or both); on indictment, imprisonment for up to five years.
• The move keeps Canada aligned with similar measures by allies, and may affect companies that need permits for otherwise prohibited transactions (those permits could become harder or costlier to get).