Opinion

Let Lennikov Stay

In this nation of second chances, he's earned one.

By Rafe Mair, 8 Jun 2009, TheTyee.ca

Mikhail Lennikov

Mikhail Lennikov and his family. Photo by CBC.

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In a province of wimps (and I'll explain that accusation further on), there is at least one non-wimp. He is Pastor Richard Hergesheimer of First Lutheran Church, who gave the Russian deportee Mikhail Lennikov sanctuary in his church.

The legal right of a church to provide sanctuary in cases like this is questionable but in admittedly limited research I could find no Canadian legal authority on the subject

I did, however, come across a review of a book called Sanctuary, Sovereignty, Sacrifice by Dr. R. Lippert of The University of Windsor with this quote from the University's review.

"Facing immediate deportation, a lone Guatemalan migrant entered sanctuary in a Montreal church in December 1983. Thus began the practice of sanctuary in Canada. By 2003, 36 incidents involving 261 migrants had occurred nationwide.

"[In] Sanctuary, Sovereignty, Sacrifice … Randy Lippert suggests that, far from being a coherent social movement, sanctuary practice is a localized and isolated phenomenon, and often not primarily religious in orientation. It is also remarkably successful -- in every documented incident, state authorities were kept at bay and providers avoided arrest. In most cases, migrants also ultimately received legal status."

Many of you will, at this moment, be well to take a nip of Grandma's brandy before continuing because Rafe the Bleeding Heart rides again.

The case for Lennikov's staying

The deportee, Mikhail Lennikov, has lived in Canada since 1997 and, by all accounts, has been a model resident. He and his wife recently attended the high school graduation of their son. Strangely, you might think, Lennikov's wife and son have been allowed to stay.

Lennikov's sin is that he served in the Soviet Union's secret service, the KGB, from 1982, when he graduated from university, until 1988. (This is the same KGB that was once headed by former president and now Prime Minister Putin, a man for whom we lay out the red carpet.)

There is no evidence that Lennikov committed any sort of crimes against humanity -- rather that he was a simple bureaucrat not a policy maker.

Canada's second chance tradition

I'm old enough -- easily, I might add -- to have witnessed several waves of immigration.

Every influx of people into Canada has included worrisome individuals. Two groups that have been hugely influential for good are, first, the Germans after World War II. Many of them were at least titular Nazis, having served, like it or not, in the Hitler Youth and the armed forces fighting for Hitler. In doing so, each of them swore personal fealty to Adolf Hitler. Many worked in government where membership in the party was mandatory. Many belonged to the viciously wicked SS. In fact, the Allied forces occupying Germany originally wanted to ban members of the Nazi Party from working in the new government but found that if they did that, there would be no good civil servants left.

In 1956, Canada took in tens of thousands of Hungarians, many of whom were criminals let loose by the Communist government after the Soviet Union had regained power so that they were free of them. Clearly many of the refugees had worked for the Communist Party and were party members. This influx of Hungarians has been hugely beneficial to this country.

We have in more recent years seen Indo-Canadians coming to Canada who were known to be active supporters for a free state called Khalistan and the violence they felt was necessary for them to achieve their goals. The contributions of their culture to the overall culture of Canada has been profound.

I will be misunderstood, I realize, and will be thought of as racist and anti this and anti that. Not so, I simply point out that Lennikov's past working record scarcely disqualifies him if one looks at the Canadian tradition in these matters.

Weigh the human harm

I have no doubt that Lennikov will, if deported, return to a difficult if not dangerous homeland. He will leave behind him a wife and teenage son who must fend for themselves. The community will be deprived of a good, hard-working man.

In short, Lennikov's record as a resident of this country is there for all to see. Why isn't that sufficient to allow him to stay in the country he loves with his wife and son?

Pastor Hergesheimer and his flock do have some backbone here in the Land Of Blah and I hope that pays off for the Lennikov family -- and thus for the community at large.

Land of wimps?

As I said at the outset, we're a province of wimps. That was demonstrated by the recent election demonstrated.

Where was the anger at the Campbell government for forcing BC Hydro to contract with private power companies for power they don't need, these contracts now at $31 billion and climbing?

Where was the swell of public anger at the Campbell government setting BC Hydro on a course to bankruptcy?

Where indeed is the outrage about the recent approval of the Glacier Howser project in the East Kootenays, which doesn't even put the rivers back into the river bed after their diversion but dumps them into a lake?

The NDP version of outrage came from Norm Macdonald, MLA for Columbia River-Revelstoke, who suggests that since the projects are put in the hands of private companies like AXOR, questions need to be asked about motives when considering the studies they publish. He prattles on about a number of concerns with nary a word about how Hydro doesn't need the power nor the huge additional burden when it must give the developer, Axos, its share of the lolly to be added to the $31 Billion.

We are at least one half a province of wimps since half of us, who could have saved BC Hydro, didn't even get off our asses to vote the Campbell government out because they would rather see their environment and BC Hydro killed than vote NDP.

It will be like a four-year movie you can watch scene by scene that chronicles the death of our rivers and of BC Hydro. For those who voted Liberal or didn't vote at all, enjoy.

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Rafe Mair writes a Monday column for The Tyee. Read previous columns by Rafe Mair here. He also acts as a spokesperson for the Save Our Rivers Society.

22 Comments:

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  • Grumpy

    2 years ago

    I wonder why..............

    ............ this country finds it difficult for this country to deport known criminals and cocaine dealers, yet they pick on Lennikov? If he was a spy, he isn't a spy no more.

    I think it is all about racism and anti-communism. Lennikov is white and in Canada being white and a male makes you a second class citizen (even the provincial NDP banned white males from running in the election!) and an easy target.

    The chocolate soldiers that run this country like scapegoats (just like dear old Adolf) to blame everything on and the flavour of the decade is communists and anyone who is thought of being a communist is deemed an enemy of the state. The real enemies of the state are of course the the politicians and their friends who are on the take.

    Why don't we deport them?

  • MichaelT

    2 years ago

    we voted against the NDP (or

    we voted against the NDP (or stayed home, ahem) because of the idiotic policies emanating out of BC NDP central.

    You are right if there was any time to win this was it, but you know not to beat a dead horse but the anti-man thing, the visceral problems Gregor had all indicate a lunacy, a dictatorial clinging to ideology that turned off the electorate.

    The wimps were the NDP who caved to the extremists who hated men and civil liberties, in my opinion.

    I'm sorry your side lost Rafe but really, calling us wimps because we did not want to chop our nuts off?

    Moderator - please he called us wimps can we not respond appropriately? Thanks in advance if we can.

  • blackie

    2 years ago

    My laugh for the day

    Halfway through the piece, I was wondering how long it would take for Rafe to link the deportation of this Russian with his pet peeve. I guess I didn't quite get the "wimp" reference at first, but he didn't disappoint. Fascinating segue.

    The horse is dead, Rafe -- stop flogging it. Your credibility is already in trouble because of that ridiculous campaign and the cooked up numbers regularly trotted out to support it. We "wimps" just don't buy the BS.

  • Van Isle

    2 years ago

    I think Rafe is partly wrong

    I think Rafe is partly wrong but we're not a province of wimps, we're a country of wimps.

  • alive

    2 years ago

    keep religion out of it

    Blame the judges, blame the law, whatever! But do not give credit to any group or individual who defies the law of the land.

    We have spent enough money giving that family the hearing the law stipulates, if we do not like the result, then change the law or the judges.

    The media runs sob-stories every week about some injustice (and it sells papers I suppose), but our society is not meant to be run by popularity polls and fund-raisers.

    Since when should it matter if one has established a relationship with a church or not?

    Is this one more example of the networking exemplified by the "old boys club"?
    Had he not been a church member he would have been out on his ass!

    Sorry Rafe about your bleeding heart, this tearjerker story may catch attention but does not pass scrutiny!

  • southdeltawalker

    2 years ago

    let him stay

    Thank goodness that the good Pastor gave Lennikov santuary.

    There is good evidence that he would be immediately jailed and treated harshly upon his return to Russia.

    Immigration Canada along with denying British MP James Galloway entrance has made another shameful decision.

    I don't know if we are a Province of wimps though but somehow equating this story with how hard done be white males are by the NDP is quite a leap.

  • DPL

    2 years ago

    What possible harm to this

    What possible harm to this country could a fellow who admitted he had worked for the KGB as he was coming into the country? Our own spy agency found him not to be a threat. He and his family are model citizens so let's stop the nonsence that he doesn't deserve to live here. Rafe mentioned the Hitler youth. The guy next door to us, years ago, had,as most kids been a memebr of the Hitler youth, and a couple of his family died flying Stuka's. He spent a lot of his adult life as a valuable member of the Canadian Military.

    Does anyone in the federl government actually have any brains at all? Ye Rafe shifted to abother subject in his article but God knows the rest of us do the same so often. a family is being split up. do we have no compassion?

  • carfreed

    2 years ago

    applause

    Thanks for this article. The Unitarians have acted with true Christian principles.
    Readers could give them a call to congratulate them.
    Emails/phone calls to the L (for Loose) Cannon in Ottawa are in order as well.

  • thelaloblog

    2 years ago

    Lennikov's Basement Adventure

    "...if their eminences, Kenney and Van Loan have something on this guy, then please, do tell. People on the social right complain about the Nanny state when it comes to Canada's social programs, but for people who are affronted by this perceived adult-child relationship, is there anything more condescending than a government saying it doesn't need to justify it's actions? Millions of intelligent Canadians disagree. Who can blame Mr. Lennikov for seeking sanctuary in his church basement?"

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY6IqXZx0tA

  • VivianLea Doubt

    2 years ago

    what a fun link...

    thanks so much.

  • realisticman

    2 years ago

    Another fun Link

    http://decisions.fct-cf.gc.ca/en/2007/2007fc43/2007fc43.html

  • pender paul

    2 years ago

    good for you Raif

    Let Lennikov stay--I'm not aware that he has broken any of the laws of Canada. The federal government has stated that he must go because his work with the KGB involved investigating democratically elected governments. At the same time the RCMP was investigating democratically elected union leaders here in Canada. As usual Harper and his cronies are hypocrites. If I had my druthers I'd send Harper packing for all his crimes against the ordinary citizens of Canada.

  • LeftSeater

    2 years ago

    Lucky Lennikov..

    ..wasn't raising farmed salmon.

  • telus employee

    2 years ago

    Dinosuars and men living together

    Are the Conservatives living in a time warp? The cold war law that is sending Lennikov back to Russia ignores the fact that Russia has not been communist for some time.

    He didn't do anything nasty illegal or nasty when he was with the KGB, he was a document translator. The Conservatives are too simple to know that while section 34(1) of the immigration law says that Lennikov has to be deported for his time with the KGB, section 34(2) says that the Minister of Public Safety can intervene and keep Lennikov here.

    I guess the Conservatives are proof that man and dinosaurs roam the earth at the same time.

    PS there is a very good CBC story on this at (Mikhail Lennikov: 10 common questions about deportation case)

    http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/06/04/f-mikhail-lennikov-faq-sanctuary.html

  • G West

    2 years ago

    telus employee

    Of course the minister can intervene - but why would he?

    Harper and jack-booted pals want to be seen as 'tough guys' so they'll behave like thugs every chance they get.

    The section of the Immigration Act is outdated and bizarre - an artifact of the cold war that should be put out of its misery.

    The KGB no longer exists - punishing someone for having once worked for a dinosaur is about as relevant as the idiotic conservative ad campaign against Michael Ignatieff.

    Not that I'm any fan of Ignatieff's.

  • Dr Alexander

    2 years ago

    So, what do I tell the kids

    ... when they say:

    "Dad, the law is just plain wrong and unfair. We are going to _________(fill in the blank)."

    So, what are the kinds of laws that a lot of people feel are unjust and worthy of breaking

    Marijuana, assisted suicide, fishing out of season or exceeding your catch, cutting your own da*m tree in your own da*m backyard, mooring your sailboat in False Creek

    And the list goes on and on.

    So, I would say by virtue of Lennikov going so very public with his lawbreaking, he simply has to go. Just like, if I recall correctly, the lady from Guatemala and her daughter a few years ago here in Vancouver who were also model citizens and were holed up in a church.

    I guess they were not "telegenic" enough and couldn't afford a trip to Ottawa to organize a national press conference.

    I guess they didn't get their second chance. Too bad, they seemed such nice people.

  • Gerlib

    2 years ago

    Yes Lennikov & family should stay

    I suspect it's not Harper wanting to ship him out, but a French Canadian civil servant wanting him out.

    As for punishing the Liberals for their few errors, OK but not OK to put in the other party which hasn't a clue how to run this province. We had enough of them in the 90s.

    We punished a few Liberal MPs, particularly Oppal Campbell set up to take the dive for the stupid expansion of the high voltage transmission line going over peoples back yard. That transmission line should be removed to the Delta industrial waterfront to the north.

  • RickW

    2 years ago

    Isn't Harper Pi$$ed...........

    ...because some Canadian diplomats were expelled?

    Anyway, Lennikov likely committed a cardinal sin in the Cons rulebook, in that he didn't bring enough cash into the country when he settled. It was started by Mulroney I believe (who has a penchant for sacks of cash).

  • dorothy

    2 years ago

    barking up the wrong tree,

    or maybe climbing the ladder only to discover its leaning against the wrong wall...

    Hasn't anybody understood, that this was just a trap for the other 'russian', Ignatieff. The conservative simpletons had hoped he would jump to champion this guy so they could lambast him in a different way for 'not caring about Canada and Canadians', conveniently overlooking the fact that the man was born and grew up here so he's one of them. Or maybe not. Is that what this is all about? Do we now have to pass these same kinds of tests that they had during Apartheid in South Africa, of some sort of canadian 'purity'?? Good luck. I've always said that when people have to establish their supremacy by verbal sophistry, pseudo-science and artificial; categorizations,it's probably a pretty thin case they have for it to begin with...

  • G West

    2 years ago

    dorothy

    Very perceptive - glad you noticed it too - as I said in my little comment, the 'russian' connection - given the current facile attack ad campaign against Ignatieff - is very interesting.

    And it's not just the timing that is suspicious. Despite my dislike of 'Liberal' politics - I don't believe that the record of the current bunch of con men has had a parallel since the time of Sir John A MacDonald...

    What they have against Lennikov is vey thin gruel - what they have against Ignatieff is little more than envy.

  • Bob Tarplett

    2 years ago

    Let Lennikov stay - Rafe Mair editorial

    We have a real problem with the Federal Immigration process that "punishes" people like the Lennikovs but continually allows the likes of the Omar Khadrs and other 3rd world criminals and terrorists to stay!

    I was hoping that the Harper Govt would finally "right this wrong" and provide Canada with a far more effective and commonsense immigration process - but I am very sadly mistaken!

    We have a totally useless Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister (Jason Kenny) who listens more to the "left wing bleatings" of the IRB and the "Liberal" Federal Judges, not forgetting "special interest minority ethnic groups and their self-serving lawyers rather than deal with the commonsense situation of the Lennikov family, ie immediately grant the whole family Canadian Citizenship!

    What is the problem here? The KGB "died" some 20 years ago along with the old Soviet Union! There are two far greater world threats to Canada - the Peoples Republic of China and Islamic terrorists! How many Chinese "students" presently in Canada are "agents" of the Chinese Political Police - the betting is at least 30%! Just look at the ongoing flagrantly anti-democratic "activities" of these so-called students in regards to Falung Gong protesters in Vancouver, outside the Chinese Consulate?

    Mr Lennikov was "drafted" into the KGB as an analyst with a particular task - to learn Japanese, and keep "tabs" on Japanese businessmen - no "dirty tricks" here! In fact that knowledge that Mr Lennikov has should be of great value to Canada's Ministry of International Trade in regards to Canada's dealing with major Japanese companies like Toyota, Sony and Mitsubishi! And the IRB wants to deport this "great asset" to a more welcoming country like the USA or Australia - how incredibly dumb!

    Dump the 2 Islamic terrorists,Omar Khadr and Rejiback in the Canadian Embassy in Sudan but KEEP Mr Lennikov!

  • Yammer

    2 years ago

    sympathy for the devilsky

    As you may no, I am no big fan of using "reason" and "facts" to get in the way of a good Tyee rant, but it does seem a bit wacky that so many of you good democratic dissident peoples are defending a KGB agent, a long-serving, high-ranking member of an agency that existed in order to stamp out democratic dissidence.

    It's keenerific to point out that other naughties should get the boot first, but the govmint actually got *this* one.

    Tying him in with Iggyphobia doesn't wash either, since Lennikov has been fighting deportation since at least September 2002.

    (The court decision sets out the relevant dates here --
    http://www.vancouversun.com/pdf/lennikovdecision.pdf )

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