A Canadian official appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to look into accusations of Chinese meddling in Canada's last two elections resigned on Friday. The elder statesman put down papers after backlash from the opposition party over his appointment.

Former governor general David Johnston recently released an interim report concluding that Beijing had attempted to interfere in Canada's 2019 and 2021 elections but failed to change outcome of the votes. He was going to begin hearing in the next month with testimony from targetted diaspora communities as well as experts in national security and international relations. He was to submit a final report in October.

Watch | Canada wildfires: US President Joe Biden assured help as toxic smoke lingers into US

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However, opposition parties accused that he was too close to Trudeau. They demanded an independent public inquiry instead.

"When I undertook the task of independent special rapporteur on foreign interference, my objective was to help build trust in our democratic institutions," Johnston said in his resignation letter.

"I have concluded that given the highly partisan atmosphere around my appointment and work, my leadership has had the opposite effect."

<h2>The alleged Chinese interference</h2>

The minority government led by Trudeau had faced pressure to explain the alleged Chinese interference in Canada's elections. The claims were first reported by the local media. These reports cited leaked intellilgence documents and unnamed sources who said that China sought to influence or subvert the elections.&nbsp;

The reported accusations included secret campaign donations and Chinese operatives working for Canadian candidates or lawmakers in an attempt to influence policy.

Following Johnston's appointment, three opposition legislators said Canada's spy agency told them they had been the target of Chinese interference.

Recently, it had emerged that China had sought to intimidate a Canadian lawmaker and his relatives in Hong Kong because of his criticism of China.

Last month, Ottawa expelled a Chinese diplomat implicated in the scheme.

<h2>China denies</h2>

China had called the accusations 'groundless' and had reacted by expelling a Canadian diplomat. It had warned Canada that aligning with USA's policy on China risked its relation with its second-largest trading partner.

In his preliminary findings, Johnston noted common foreign interference techniques included cyberattacks, online influence campaigns, disinformation and "the exploitation of human relationships."

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He also identified shortcomings in how intelligence is shared within government.

But he rejected calls for a public inquiry, an advice Trudeau accepted, citing "the sensitivity of the intelligence" at play.

Johnston said his resignation would be effective no later than the end of June.

China-Canada relations turned icy in late 2018 when Canadian police detained a Chinese telecommunications executive. Shortly afterwards, Beijing arrested two Canadians on spying charges.

All three were freed in 2021.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A Canadian official appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to look into accusations of Chinese meddling in Canada's last two elections resigned on Friday. The elder statesman put down papers after backlash from the opposition party over his appointment.

A Canadian official appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to look into accusations of Chinese meddling in Canada's last two elections resigned on Friday. The elder statesman put down papers after backlash from the opposition party over his appointment. Former governor general David Johnston recently released an interim report concluding that Beijing had attempted to interfere in Canada's 2019 and 2021 elections but failed to change outcome of the votes. He was going to begin hearing in the next month with testimony from targetted diaspora communities as well as experts in national security and international relations. He was to submit a final report in October. Watch | Canada wildfires: US President Joe Biden assured help as toxic smoke lingers into US × However, opposition parties accused that he was too close to Trudeau. They demanded an independent public inquiry instead. "When I undertook the task of independent special rapporteur on foreign interference, my objective was to help build trust in our democratic institutions," Johnston said in his resignation letter. "I have concluded that given the highly partisan atmosphere around my appointment and work, my leadership has had the opposite effect." The alleged Chinese interference The minority government led by Trudeau had faced pressure to explain the alleged Chinese interference in Canada's elections. The claims were first reported by the local media. These reports cited leaked intellilgence documents and unnamed sources who said that China sought to influence or subvert the elections. The reported accusations included secret campaign donations and Chinese operatives working for Canadian candidates or lawmakers in an attempt to influence policy. Following Johnston's appointment, three opposition legislators said Canada's spy agency told them they had been the target of Chinese interference. Recently, it had emerged that China had sought to intimidate a Canadian lawmaker and his relatives in Hong Kong because of his criticism of China. Last month, Ottawa expelled a Chinese diplomat implicated in the scheme. China denies China had called the accusations 'groundless' and had reacted by expelling a Canadian diplomat. It had warned Canada that aligning with USA's policy on China risked its relation with its second-largest trading partner. In his preliminary findings, Johnston noted common foreign interference techniques included cyberattacks, online influence campaigns, disinformation and "the exploitation of human relationships." Also Read | Canada wildfires spark 'ecoterrorist' conspiracy theory He also identified shortcomings in how intelligence is shared within government. But he rejected calls for a public inquiry, an advice Trudeau accepted, citing "the sensitivity of the intelligence" at play. Johnston said his resignation would be effective no later than the end of June. China-Canada relations turned icy in late 2018 when Canadian police detained a Chinese telecommunications executive. Shortly afterwards, Beijing arrested two Canadians on spying charges. All three were freed in 2021. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Canada: Official probing Chinese meddling in elections quits

Thousands of Peruvians supporting socialist Pedro Castillo and right-wing rival Keiko Fujimori took to the streets on Saturday amid swirling uncertainty over the result of a tight June 6 presidential election that has been held up by legal challenges. 
 
Castillo supporters marched in downtown Lima towards Plaza San Martín, a block from the headquarters of the electoral jury, with giant banners and photos of the socialist candidate, calling for his apparent election win to be confirmed. 
 
A few blocks away, thousands of others supporting Fujimori paraded with Peruvian flags and banners that read 'no to fraud',&nbsp;arriving at the Plaza Bolognesi, where a stage had been set up ahead of the expected arrival of the conservative. 
 
Castillo holds a slender 44,000-vote lead over Fujimori with all ballots counted. But his right-wing rival has sought to disqualify votes, largely in rural areas that backed the leftist, making claims of fraud with little evidence. 
 
Castillo's Free Peru party has denied the allegations of fraud while international election observers have said the vote was carried out cleanly. The US&nbsp;State Department described the process as a 'model of democracy'. 
 
In Fujimori's march were members of various right and center-right parties, as well as retired military personnel, who have backed her fraud claims. Many had banners saying 'no to communism',&nbsp;a criticism they often aim at Castillo. 
 
In the rival camp, many wore the same wide-brimmed hats Castillo has used in the campaign. Some wore outfits from the country's Andean regions and danced, while others carried whips as used by rural 'ronderos', or civil police. 
 
Castillo, a 51-year-old former elementary school teacher and the son of peasant farmers, plans to redraft the country's constitution to give the state a more active role in the economy and take a larger share of profits from mining companies.

(With inputs from agencies)

Thousands of Peruvians supporting socialist Pedro Castillo and right-wing rival Keiko Fujimori took to the streets on Saturday amid swirling uncertainty over the result of a tight June 6 presidential election that has been held up by legal challenges.

Thousands of Peruvians supporting socialist Pedro Castillo and right-wing rival Keiko Fujimori took to the streets on Saturday amid swirling uncertainty over the result of a tight June 6 presidential election that has been held up by legal challenges. Castillo supporters marched in downtown Lima towards Plaza San Martín, a block from the headquarters of the electoral jury, with giant banners and photos of the socialist candidate, calling for his apparent election win to be confirmed. A few blocks away, thousands of others supporting Fujimori paraded with Peruvian flags and banners that read 'no to fraud', arriving at the Plaza Bolognesi, where a stage had been set up ahead of the expected arrival of the conservative. Castillo holds a slender 44,000-vote lead over Fujimori with all ballots counted. But his right-wing rival has sought to disqualify votes, largely in rural areas that backed the leftist, making claims of fraud with little evidence. Castillo's Free Peru party has denied the allegations of fraud while international election observers have said the vote was carried out cleanly. The US State Department described the process as a 'model of democracy'. In Fujimori's march were members of various right and center-right parties, as well as retired military personnel, who have backed her fraud claims. Many had banners saying 'no to communism', a criticism they often aim at Castillo. In the rival camp, many wore the same wide-brimmed hats Castillo has used in the campaign. Some wore outfits from the country's Andean regions and danced, while others carried whips as used by rural 'ronderos', or civil police. Castillo, a 51-year-old former elementary school teacher and the son of peasant farmers, plans to redraft the country's constitution to give the state a more active role in the economy and take a larger share of profits from mining companies. (With inputs from agencies)

Peruvians backing rival leaders take to the streets amid fears over presidential election meddling

Russia on Friday accused the US Embassy of having meddled in Russia`s internal affairs when it published a map online showing the route of an unauthorised anti-government protest earlier this month.

Russia`s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had summoned a senior US diplomat over what it said was a post on Twitter and the embassy`s website containing a map drawn up by Russia`s opposition ahead of the August 3 rally in Moscow.

Russian police detained over 1,000 people at the protest, the latest in a series of opposition rallies ahead of a Moscow city election next month that have led to the biggest standoff between the authorities and the opposition in years.

The US Embassy warned US nationals in an English-language statement on its website on August&nbsp;2 to avoid the protest route, noting that the rally had not been sanctioned by Moscow authorities.

The statement contained a map of the planned route as well as details and information about it in Russian.

"We underlined that we consider the publication of the route ... as promoting participation in (the protest) and calling for action, which constitutes interference in the internal affairs of our country," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The US Embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The complaint came a day after Russia accused German media outlet Deutsche Welle of having also called on Russians to take part in recent anti-government protests.

Russia on Friday accused the US Embassy of having meddled in Russia`s internal affairs when it published a map online showing the route of an unauthorised anti-government protest earlier this month.

Russia on Friday accused the US Embassy of having meddled in Russia`s internal affairs when it published a map online showing the route of an unauthorised anti-government protest earlier this month. Russia`s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had summoned a senior US diplomat over what it said was a post on Twitter and the embassy`s website containing a map drawn up by Russia`s opposition ahead of the August 3 rally in Moscow. Russian police detained over 1,000 people at the protest, the latest in a series of opposition rallies ahead of a Moscow city election next month that have led to the biggest standoff between the authorities and the opposition in years. The US Embassy warned US nationals in an English-language statement on its website on August 2 to avoid the protest route, noting that the rally had not been sanctioned by Moscow authorities. The statement contained a map of the planned route as well as details and information about it in Russian. "We underlined that we consider the publication of the route ... as promoting participation in (the protest) and calling for action, which constitutes interference in the internal affairs of our country," the foreign ministry said in a statement. The US Embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The complaint came a day after Russia accused German media outlet Deutsche Welle of having also called on Russians to take part in recent anti-government protests.

Russia accuses US of meddling over publication of protest map

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