By Canadian Press

Judge sides with woman accused of spying for Russia, orders new hearing

Apr 6, 2020 | 2:41 PM

OTTAWA — A Russian-born woman who was barred from Canada for allegedly spying on behalf of Moscow will get another chance to argue her case.

In a newly released ruling, Federal Court Justice Henry Brown says Elena Crenna is entitled to a fresh immigration hearing.

Brown says he found no reason to believe Crenna was engaged in anything secret or covert, contrary to an immigration adjudicator’s decision last year.

The story began in 1994 when Canadian David Crenna hired Elena Filatova — whom he would later marry — as an interpreter and public-relations representative on a humanitarian housing project in Tver, Russia.

An agent from a Russian security agency contacted her to ask questions about the project and David gave her permission to speak with him in the interest of being transparent and forthcoming. 

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Immigration officials gave Elena the go-ahead to live in Canada in 2018, but the federal government successfully appealed the decision last year on grounds her meetings with the Russian agent amounted to espionage.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 6, 2020.

The Canadian Press