Prominent Russian democracy activists are urging Ottawa to resettle dozens of their peers who attempted to claim asylum in the U.S. and are now at risk of being deported by Washington to face potentially brutal imprisonment conditions in Russia. Ilya Yashin, a former Moscow city councillor, says the U.S. has deported a Russian man who dodged conscription and is likely now serving with the Russian military. Natalia Arno of the Free Russia Foundation says solidarity with Canada is crucial to face off against rising global threats to democracy. (Dec. 6, 2025)