Alexander and Timothy Vavilov, 21 and 25, are the children of Elena Vavilova and Andrey Bezrukov, Russian operatives who were sent to Canada to develop “legends” that would mask their spying activities in the United States.
The parents stole the identities of Tracey Foley and Donald Heathfield, Canadians who had died as infants. The couple maintained the fiction for two decades until they were arrested in 2010 and sent back to Russia in a spy swap.
The brothers also returned to Russia at the time but are now claiming they are Canadians , and they have taken the government to court to be recognized as such, arguing that since they were born in Toronto they have a right to citizenship.
“I am first and foremost Canadian,” Timothy Vavilov, whom Canadian intelligence accuses of being a Russian operative, wrote in an affidavit. “I have lived for 20 years believing that I was Canadian and still believe I am Canadian, nothing can change that.”
The younger brother wrote in his affidavit that his Canadian heritage was “an important part of who I am” and that he introduced himself as a Canadian. “It is the only culture I can associate with, and has been a cornerstone of my identity.”
But he has not lived in Canada since the age of one, when his parents, having established their Canadian legends, moved to France and then Boston, where they became naturalized American citizens under their fake Canadian identities.
, and they have taken the government to court to be recognized as such, arguing that since they were born in Toronto they have a right to citizenship.
