Layers of fabrication on a sliver of truth

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

Colby Cosh should do some investigative research before he pontificates on 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: “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 on Feb. 27.

John Helmer is a well-known KGB agent, according to former KGB Major Yuri Shvets.

Arina Tsukanova is identified as “a Russian Ukrainian journalist from Kiev (sic) currently living in Crimea,” whose most recent work, “How Ukraine annexed Crimea. A frank conversation with Nikki Haley,” takes alternative facts to a point that would make Kellyanne Conway blush.

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

I worked with Chomiak at Ukrainian News in 1982-83 and knew him to be an honest journalist and a deeply religious and conscientious individual.

Marco Levytsky, editor, Ukrainian News, Edmonton