Russian articles smear Chomiak

Re. “Yes, it’s true Freeland’s grandfather had Nazi ties,” NP, March 9

Colby Cosh should do some investigative research before he pontificates as to what does and does not constitute disinformation.

The two original articles churned out by the Russian propaganda machine to smear the late Michael Chomiak were: “SCOOP: Canada’s new foreign minister lying about family’s Ukrainian Nazi past,” by John Helmer, posted on Russia Insider on Jan. 19, and “A Nazi skeleton in the family closet,” by Arina Tsukanova, posted on consortiumnews.com Feb. 27.

John Helmer is a wellknown KGB agent, who was recruited in the 1980s according to former KGB Major Yuri Shvets and left to live in Russia permanently. Arina Tsukanova is identified as “a Russian Ukrainian journalist from Kiev (sic) currently living in Crimea,” whose most recent work is entitled “How Ukraine annexed Crimea. A frank conversation with Nikki Haley,” and takes “alternative facts” to such a degree it would make Kellyane Conway blush.

In both cases there is a sliver of truth in that Chomiak did work for Krakivs’ki visti, upon which layers and layers of fabrications are mounted in an attempt to portray him as some Nazi collaborator, which is a very common characteristic of Russian propaganda.

I worked with the late Michael Chomiak at Ukrainian News in 1982-1983 and knew him to be an honest journalist and a deeply religious and conscientious individual. Marco Levytsky, editor, Ukrainian News, Edmonton

Editor’s note: This letter originally appeared on Saturday and is being republished to remove a reference added during page production.