Two Russian nationals participating in a worldwide tour have been held at a Yellowknife airport upon arrival simply for being Russian.

“A charter aircraft that carried Russian foreign nationals has been held at the Yellowknife airport. We will continue to hold Russia accountable for its invasion of Ukraine,” Transport Minister Omar Alghabra wrote in a Tweet.

According to Transport Canada, no red flags were raised until the government learned those aboard the chartered flight were of Russian descent. 

Earlier this week, Canada barred all aircraft owned by Russia, including those chartered by Russian companies, as well as Russian oil imports.

Many have taken to social media to condemn the actions of the Canadian government over their rash handling of two, presumably innocent, Russians with no apparent ties to the Russian government.

“Wait, are you holding them hostage just because they are Russian? You think all Russians are responsible for Putin’s invasion of Ukraine? That is insane, and it’s the same insanity that led to Japanese internment camps in WW2,” Christina Pushaw writes in a Tweet.

“Trudeau’s minister, Omar Alghabra, has just created a no-fly list based on Russian ethnicity/citizenship — not on any crime,” Rebel News’s Ezra Levant writes. “This same Omar Alghabra called for the legalization of the Hamas and Hezbollah terrorist groups.”

According to Northwest Territories infrastructure minister Diane Archie, “Canada continues to gather the facts required to be able to make a determination on the next steps regarding these passengers.”

Archie subsequently confirmed that the passengers are still being held, and it is unclear when they will be released.