Canadian NGO concerned about the fate of Russian dissidents
They are waiting for visa approval in neutral countries and are afraid to return home.
Mikhail Yelizarov, co-founder of Canada for a Free Russia, a former opposition activist, says that every day since the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine, he has been asked by different people from Russia to help him move to Canada. According to a poll last year, Russians consider Canada one of the best countries for immigration.
But some Russian citizens, who are now abroad, have already tried to apply to Immigration Canada and received a veiled refusal.
For example, Ekaterina Smirnova applied to move to Canada with her only blood relative, who would be her sponsor. Back in 2019, the Department of Immigration sent Catherine a letter confirming her eligibility to move under the family reunification program. Because of the pandemic, obtaining permanent residency status was delayed. On March 12, Catherine applied for a visitor's visa and is still waiting for a response.
Soon the girl would have to leave Serbia to avoid violating her visa regime. The Department of Immigration responded to Catherine's request that both of her applications are pending — and that Canada's immigration system is "fair and compassionate.
Until the international situation stabilizes, Russian citizens who are determined to move to Canada should probably expect to live for several years in any country where they will be granted temporary resident status. For a more detailed analysis of the circumstances that might complicate emigration from Russia, see separate article.
