Prominent Russians with close ties to the Putin government are accusing Canada of interfering in that country's constitutional vote on gay marriage by opposing a ban. In a video posted to Facebook by a Russian LGBTQ group, Canada's ambassador to Russia also addressed the constitutional amendment that's on the table. (Alexei Sergeev/CBC)The U.S. ambassador to Russia also released a video statement on Pride Month, but only LeClaire's video made mention of the upcoming constitutional vote. A notable exception has been on the issue of gay rights, where Canada has been more forceful on LGTBQ issues, including opposing a 2013 Russian law that banned gay "propaganda." No progressProminent author and government critic Dmitry Glukovsky penned a scathing rebuttal to the constitutional vote — and changing the terms of Putin's presidency — in the opposition paper Novaya Gazeta.

Source: CBC News June 30, 2020 07:52 UTC