Jim Carrey and Margaret Atwood on Moscow’s ‘blacklist’

Jim Carrey and Margaret Atwood are among 100 Canadians who have been banned from entering Russia, according to a new blacklist from Moscow.

Both have spoken out against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with actor Carrey creating an artwork of a tattered toy bear and the caption: “It breaks my heart to see innocent people (especially children) put in harm’s way by yet another of history’s grandiose political jerks. Beware the unloved.”

Ms Atwood, 82, best known for writing The Handmaid’s Tale was one of 1,000 signatories of an open letter back in February which condemned the “senseless war”.

The move appears to be in response to Canada announcing another $500 million (£320 million) in additional military assistance to Ukraine and new sanctions on nearly two dozen Russians.

The additional funding adds to the $3.4 billion (£2.1 billion) Canadian assistance to Kyiv so far and will help fund military, surveillance and communications equipment, fuel and medical supplies, a statement from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office said.

Monday’s sanctions target 23 Russian individuals “involved in gross and systematic human rights violations against Russian opposition leaders”, including police officers, prosecutors, judges and prison officials, it added.

Mr Carrey, 60, a two-time Golden Globe winner, is Canadian-American, having been born in Ontario.

He has starred in a host of comedy movies including Dumb and Dumber, Bruce Almighty and The Mask.

Some people had speculated online that he was banned because he may resurrect his role as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, to recover animals that had been stolen from Ukrainian zoos.

Journalists including Murray Brewster, Margaret Evans, and Adrienne Arsenault who work for state broadcaster CBC, were also banned.

The Russian foreign ministry said it decided on the new round of sanctions “in response to the practice, implemented by Justin Trudeau’s regime, of imposing sanctions against the Russian leadership, politicians and parliamentarians, business representatives, experts and journalists, and cultural figures.”

Since the beginning of the Ukraine offensive on February 24, Canada has sanctioned more than 1,400 individuals and entities in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

In late October, it hit 35 individuals and six entities linked to the energy sector.