Country of Origin: Russia

Main Focus: Anti War, Feminism, LGBTQ Rights

Follow on: Russian-Candian Democratic Alliance

Maria Kartasheva is a Russian anti-war activist who relocated to Canada in 2019 with her husband, driven by the increasing totalitarianism in Russia. A key moment in her decision to leave was Russia's decriminalization of first-time domestic abuse, which personally resonated with her due to her history with abusive family members.

In Canada, Maria's activism, initially limited to internet-based efforts in Russia, expanded to public protests and activities. She actively opposes the war in Ukraine and highlights issues concerning political dissent in Russia. Maria is involved with the Russian Canadian Democratic Alliance (RCDA), focusing on uniting the Russian diaspora in Canada for democratic causes and presenting an alternative narrative to that of the Russian embassy.

Despite facing a criminal case in Russia for her online activism, Maria continues her advocacy work. She organizes events, including exhibitions and charity events, to support political prisoners and promote feminist and LGBTQ+ rights. Maria faces challenges in managing volunteer-driven initiatives and seeks resources to support activist organizations like RCD.

Recently Maria overcame a significant hurdle in her path to Canadian citizenship due to a conviction in Russia under a law prohibiting "public dissemination of deliberately false information about the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation." The conviction stemmed from her blog posts about the Bucha massacre, considered by Russian law as "public dissemination of deliberately false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation." This instance highlights a critical view of Canada's immigration policies, which initially risked penalizing Kardashian for her political dissent against the Putin regime. However, the eventual decision by Canadian authorities to grant her citizenship, as announced by Minister Marc Miller, marked a significant, albeit delayed, recognition of the legitimacy of her dissent and the need for protection of political activists in similar situations.

Maria's story is marked by her commitment to human rights and democratic values, making her a significant figure in the activist community in Canada.