Russia on Wednesday ordered the closure of the Canadian Radio and Television office in Moscow and the cancellation of the credentials and visas of its journalists, a decision deemed “unacceptable” by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

It is the first time that Moscow has vetoed a Western media group since the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine on February 24. Russia said it was a response to a March ban on Canadian TV providers from broadcasting content from Russian group RT’s channels in the country.

“With his decision to expel the Canadian media from Moscow, Putin is trying to prevent them from reporting the facts and this is unacceptable,” Trudeau tweeted. “Journalists must be able to work safely, without censorship, intimidation or interference,” he added.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zalharova said “CBC has become a propaganda megaphone” against Russia and accused the Canadian government of “taking an openly Russophobic path.”

He also denounced Canada’s support for Ukraine before and after the Russian offensive.

The group said it was “deeply disappointed” with the Kremlin’s decision and recalled that it had maintained an international correspondence in Moscow for 44 years and was the only Canadian media company with a permanent presence in the country.

The CBC, which employs nine people in Russia, including three foreign journalists, announced in early March that it was “temporarily” suspending the work of its reporters in Russia under a new law that includes prison terms for disclosing ” misleading information about the army”. “, in the midst of the Russian offensive in Ukraine.