Russian lawmaker may be refused Canadian visa

September 15 2009 by Mark Johnstone

Mikhail Margelov in Canada visa refusal

A leading Russian lawmaker who also used to serve in the KGB, Mikhail Margelov, may be refused a Canadian visa after being called a ‘subversive’ by Canadian immigration officials.

The move has ‘surprised’ Russian officials, with diplomats warning that the decision is, “greatly damaging the atmosphere of the friendly relations between the two countries.”

Margelov was told on Friday that he may not be given a Canadian visa to allow him to attend the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas (FIPA). However, he did receive a temporary entry permit and has indeed entered Canada on the permit to attend the conference.

However, Margelov was disappointed when Canada Immigration officials quoted security law 2001 as a reason for his possible visa refusal. It states that citizens belonging to organisations or agencies that could carry out subversive activities against the Canadian state may be denied visas.

Margelov is a former KGB agent, but has made no secret of this matter and has made the move to Canada twice since 2001 with no hassles in terms of obtaining visas.

Senior councellor at the Russian embassy in Canada, Vladimir Lapshin, says that relations between the two countries are “very stable,” making the possible visa refusal even more surprising to the Russian authorities.

He explained, “this was a surprise because he was coming as an official person. It was important for us because it’s the first session of FIPA where we took part as an observer.”

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