My journey from Russian dissident to Canadian activist
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When Maria Kartasheva and her husband realized that the political situation in Russia had become unsafe for them, they decided to move to Canada.
But when Maria applied for citizenship in their new home, the Canadian government learned of her persecution in Russia: Maria had been charged by a court in Moscow for spreading fake news about the Russian army because she posted on social media about the Bucha massacre. Her application for Canadian citizenship was subsequently rejected.
Maria told Blue Marble that it was the kind of treatment she expected from Russia but not from Canada. “I felt so betrayed,” she said.
So she went public. Soon the media was covering her story and people were writing in support of her citizenship. Facing pressure, Canada granted her citizenship in a private ceremony.
Maria went on to petition the Canadian government to implement a series of laws that would prevent others from going through what she had. Now, as a director of the Russian Canadian Democratic Alliance, she helps represent other Russian citizens living in Canada.
