Immigration rules that jeopardized Russian activist's citizenship bid need fixing, experts say
Experts and advocates are calling on Canada to update its immigration procedures to prevent Russians seeking refuge here from being denied Canadian citizenship because they've been charged under a Russian law designed to stifle antiwar dissent.
![Immigration rules that jeopardized Russian activist's citizenship bid need fixing, experts say](https://i.cbc.ca/1.7074308.1704527824!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/maria-kartasheva.jpg)
![Maria Kartasheva, a Russian activist who lives in Ottawa, has had her application for Canadian citizenship held up due to a conviction under a Russian law that has been used against critics of the Ukraine invasion. A woman poses for a photo in a park in winter.](https://i.cbc.ca/1.7074308.1704527824!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/maria-kartasheva.jpg)
Experts and advocates are calling on Canada to update its immigration procedures to prevent Russians seeking refuge here from being denied Canadian citizenship because they've been charged under a Russian law designed to stifle antiwar dissent.