The one thing John Baird has rarely done in his 15 months as ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½'s top diplomat is sow doubt about where he stands on an issue.
ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½'s usually outspoken foreign affairs minister stepped out of character Monday with a low-key response to last week's sentencing of Russian punk band Pussy Riot, which has sparked condemnation worldwide.
Three members of the punk band were sentenced to two years in prison on hooliganism charges for singing a song that criticized President Vladimir Putin in Moscow's largest church. Their trial has been globally denounced as an example of Russia's growing decline in tolerating dissent.
At an event on another topic Monday, Baird spoke cautiously, without naming the band, or the country, when asked about the case.
"We believe in every part of the world [that] sentencing [should have] some relation to the serious nature of the crime," he said. "Obviously, there's, I think, widespread concern that this was perhaps too much and that there were perhaps political considerations. We support - independent judiciaries, and we certainly take note of what's happened."
Key Canadian allies, including the United States, Britain and the European Union, have taken a much tougher stand. They all denounced the sentence as "disproportionate" and questioned Russia's commitment to freedom.
