The Calgary Police Service is investigating multiple reports of online harassment against Russian-Calgarians on a social media platform.
Police have received multiple reports about hate speech and harassment targeting Russian-Calgarians on a social media platform over the past 48 hours.
According to a press release on Thursday, the hate crimes and extremism team is currently investigating and monitoring the incidents closely. The police did not specify what social media platform the incidents occurred on.
“Hate-motivated crimes have no place in our community, and we will not tolerate criminal behaviour associated with hate speech and harassment,” Sgt. Matt Messenger said in the release.
“We encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of a hate crime, or who may have witnessed one, to please come forward and report it to police.”
The reports come after All Saints Russian Orthodox Church in Calgary was vandalized with red paint last weekend. The church’s temple door was spray-painted with splashes of red last Saturday, prompting the priest to plead for peace.
“(We are) not supposed to keep the hate and anger to other people in our hearts. This is most important: don’t judge anyone and don’t spread hate,” Father Dimitry Grygoryev said on Monday.
Evgeny Zilberov, a dual Russian-Canadian citizen living in Calgary, said many parents are wondering if they should be letting kids go to school because of the targeted harassment.
“It’s not the right thing to do,” he said. “Many of us support you. I am translating documents for dozens of Ukrainian families who were trying to bring their family to Canada. We are doing what we can.
“Not all of us support what Russia is doing.”
Sergei Agalakov, another Russian-Calgarian, said the targeted harassment is psychologically difficult for many people. Agalakov compared the targeted harassment towards Russian-Canadians to the harassment faced by Muslims after 9/11.
“Psychologically, it’s difficult for people,” he said. “It was like Sept. 11 all over again. You do feel like the world just crashed on you. The world is not what it used to be yesterday.
“I’m sure you can find some Putin sympathizers in Calgary. There wouldn’t be very many of them, but the proportion would be much higher in Russia. Twenty years of relentless propaganda, it’s terrible.”
Meanwhile, the Edmonton Police Service said is not aware of similar incidents being reported but it is closely monitoring the situation.
“At this time, our hate crimes and violent extremism unit is not aware of any incidents like this being reported to EPS. They are sensitive to the ways the current situation in Ukraine may affect the community here, and are monitoring for similar incidents in Edmonton,” said an EPS spokesperson.
Those who have been affected by hate speech and harassment are encouraged to contact the Victim Assistance Support Team (VAST), a free service offered to all victims of crime by CPS. VAST can be contacted at 403-428-8398, or toll-free at 1-888-327-7828.
Anyone with information about the online harassment incidents is asked to call the police non-emergency number at 403-266-1234. Anonymous information can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or on its website.