Canada expedites sanctions against Russians

Canada is expediting new sanctions on Russian individuals and entities after the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight 17 over Ukraine. Prime minister Stephen Harper released a statement today, saying:

“Canada remains committed to doing its part to apply that pressure in response to Russia’s provocative actions.

“We call on president Putin to immediately order a withdrawal of his troops from the Ukrainian border, to stop the flow of weapons and militants into Ukraine, and to use Russia’s influence to persuade insurgents to lay down their weapons and renounce violence.”

Harper is also asking that investigators be given full access to the crash site of the downed Malaysian airliner.

To date, Canada has imposed sanctions on 110 individuals and entities since the onset of the crisis in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, a refrigerated train carrying the bodies of those who were onboard the airliner has left a rebel-held town in eastern Ukraine.

Malaysia’s prime minister says the remains of 282 of the crash victims are being moved to Kharkiv, Ukraine, where they’ll be handed over to Dutch authorities. The remains will then be flown to Amsterdam.

Earlier today, international monitors inspected the train cars while armed separatists stood outside. The leader of the Dutch team said the storage of the bodies “is of good quality.”