Translated material
The first non -citizens
The Russian woman in Canada was refused the consular services of the embassy due to opposition activism
Citizens of Russia Elena Pushkareva, living in Ottawa, refused to provide consular services at the Russian Embassy. Pushkareva herself told about this to Novaya Gazeta. Employees of the embassy, according to the woman, referred to the oral disposal of the ambassador in Ottawa Oleg Stepanov. And they reported that the reason for the refusal was her participation in Facebook*-community “The forces of the Goods of Ottawa and Winnipeg for the beautiful Russia of the future” and participation in political actions in Ottawa. The diplomats, Pushkarev claims, told her that her actions are extremist.
Elena says that she signed up for the Russian Embassy for notarial actions as of January 18, 2023. In the morning of this day, an unknown man called her, did not introduce himself and said that she was refused to provide consular services.
- I had a reaction of shock. My state in the person of the Mr. The ambassador cuts me off, says that he is not going to respect my rights, ”Pushkareva recalls.
Elena still went to the consulate, but she did not even open the door, confirming the cancellation of the intercom reception. An employee of the department said that in the morning his colleague called her. For detailed information, he recommended Pushkareva to turn to the ambassador personally.
Elena Pushkareva considers the refusal of Russian diplomats to provide services unlawful, she sent a letter to Oleg Stepanov asking for a reasoned answer on her problem. There was no answer yet.
-Firstly, from my point of view, the decision of the ambassador is unfounded. Secondly, it is an excess of its official powers. It is anti -constitutional, as it deprives me of my civil rights to a citizen of Russia. As a citizen, I have the right to the services of the consulate, and I can also freely express my opinion if it does not threaten others.
Russian activists living in Ottawa organized a group on Facebook in January 2021 after the return of Alexei Navalny to Russia from Germany, where he was treated after a “newcomer” poisoning. The Russians began to go to agreed rallies for the release of political prisoners. According to Elena, activists are not supporters of Navalny and are in no way connected with its structures.
- The page on Facebook - about the return of the state structure of Russia to the legal field. Yes, we quote Navalny, but this does not mean that we are his supporters. We certainly support him in the part that he was illegally pursued, he is one of the leaders of the Russian opposition.
Despite the refusal of the Russian ambassador, Elena took part in the international rally on January 21 for freedom political prisoners in Ottava. She emphasizes that it is important for her to publicly express her opinion, since hundreds of people are delayed in Russia for this.
- From the moment Navalny was imprisoned, the situation has not improved at all, on the contrary, there are more political prisoners. We continue to disagree, protest and demand their release.
Pushkareva left Moscow to Ottawa in 2013 for political reasons. In an interview with a Novaya correspondent, she said that the impetus for emigration was the return of Vladimir Putin to the presidency. In her letter from Russia in Canada, she notes that the decision to refuse to provide consular services was made without submitting to her any justification of the fact that she could “threaten the security” of Russia or her diplomatic representation in Ottawa, and asks the Russian ambassador Oleg Stepanov to return the situation to the legal direction.
The journalist of Novaya Zhota phoned the consular department at the Russian embassy in Ottawa.
They reported that Elena Pushkareva was not refused the provision of services as such, but in access to the consular department, which the diplomats were called "a regime institution."
At the same time, the interlocutor of Novaya did not clarify how a Russian citizen should get a service without being in the building.
Julia Glazova