Urge Canadian government to assist in child abduction case
Urge Canadian government to assist in child abduction case
The Issue
In a heart-wrenching ordeal that has kept a Canadian father, Mark Andrew Whittaker, wrongfully separated from his two-year-old daughter, Monika, a Canadian citizen born in Ontario on Canada Day, July 1, 2023, for over 17 months, we urgently implore the Canadian government, particularly Global Affairs Canada, the Department of Justice/Attorney General of Canada, John Brassard, Member of Parliament for Barrie South--Innisfil, and Canadian-Russian embassy and consular representatives, to step in and offer the diplomatic and governmental assistance necessary to reunite Mark and Monika.
In August, 2024, at only 13-months-old, Monika was taken from her home country, Canada, and kept in the Russian Federation without her father's consent. Mark has and continues to diligently pursue all legal avenues in both Canadian and Russian courts to secure his daughter's return.
Monika cannot independently or freely communicate with Mark, understand court orders, or advocate for herself. Every month of separation can be irreversible to a toddler’s healthy development. This is a race against time to reunite a very young child with her loving parent and to come home.
Despite Mark's relentless efforts, which include successfully securing Ontario Superior Court of Justice final orders that, by law, Monika's habitual residence (legal place of residence) is Cookstown, Ontario, Canada, and that Monika's mother, Tegmina Agadzhanyan, wrongfully removed Monika to the Russia and that Monika is to be immediately returned to Mark's care (primary residence, or physical custody), plus a Canada-wide arrest warrant for Agadzhanyan in relation to two criminal charges contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada, the response from the federal government has been passive.
As a loving father and as a proud Canadian, Mark has been deprived of the ability to raise, protect, and care for his child in their home country.
This case highlights the serious vulnerabilities faced by children and parents of children abducted to countries where enforcing foreign court orders are incredibly challenging.
Without sustained legal, diplomatic, and social advocacy efforts, children like Monika risk becoming permanently separated from one parent and their home country.
Canada’s commitment to the rule of law, child welfare, and the protection of its citizens does not stop at its borders. Monika’s case tests our collective commitment to justice and fairness. Mark has complied with all laws, legal processes and court directives, and now Mark and Monika are waiting for intervention from Canada and Russia too.
Mark has obtained the necessary Ontario court orders to compel Monika’s return and he continues to do everything within his power as a parent to tell the Russian courts why Monika’s swift return to Canada is so important. Simultaneous Canadian governmental and diplomatic aid is vital to his Russian court cases and to his daughter’s safe return.
Mark and Monika's next step is convincing the Canadian government to liaise with the Russian government about their case. Mark has already written to the Department of Justice (Minister of Justice/Attorney General of Canada), Global Affairs Canada (Minister of Foreign Affairs), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), his federal MP, John Brassard, and Canadian and Russian embassies and consulates, on numerous occasions.
The South Simcoe Police Service have contacted the Department of Justice’s International Assistance Group, Criminal Law Operations Section, with a request to engage the Russian Ministry of Justice and related Russian authorities regarding the matter.
By taking action, Canadian authorities can uphold international standards on the return of abducted children. This will set a precedent for how such cases are handled promptly and equitably.
We call upon the Global Affairs Canada and the Department of Justice/Attorney General of Canada to leverage diplomatic channels to engage with Russian counterparts, seeking a peaceful and lawful resolution that prioritizes Monika's well-being. It is imperative that the federal government utilize its resources and existing international frameworks to facilitate the return of this young child to her rightful home in Canada.
This intergovernmental co-operation could also include invoking signed bilateral treaties between Russia and Canada that require mutual legal assistance for criminal matters, specifically regarding the criminal charges against Agadzhanyan, which were laid by the South Simcoe police.
(The name of the treaty is the “Treaty Between Canada and the Russian Federation on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters” and the official text can be found here: https://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/text-texte.aspx?id=101654
Please join us in urging the Canadian government to step up and provide the necessary action in this dire situation. Every signature counts.
Legal and political delays increase the possibility that Mark and Monika's devastating situation becomes irreversible. Immediate resources and active voices are needed to bring Monika back before critical legal and diplomatic windows close. On behalf of Mark and Monika’s loved ones, thank you for donating, signing and sharing their petition.
For more information, please see Mark's GoFundMe page here: X.
For media coverage, please follow these links:
For questions or concerns, please contact Mark at BringMonikaHome@gmail.com or his legal counsel Rebecca Ying at ry@ryfamilylaw.ca and James Gilbert at jgilbert@gilbertlawgroup.ca.
453
The Issue
In a heart-wrenching ordeal that has kept a Canadian father, Mark Andrew Whittaker, wrongfully separated from his two-year-old daughter, Monika, a Canadian citizen born in Ontario on Canada Day, July 1, 2023, for over 17 months, we urgently implore the Canadian government, particularly Global Affairs Canada, the Department of Justice/Attorney General of Canada, John Brassard, Member of Parliament for Barrie South--Innisfil, and Canadian-Russian embassy and consular representatives, to step in and offer the diplomatic and governmental assistance necessary to reunite Mark and Monika.
In August, 2024, at only 13-months-old, Monika was taken from her home country, Canada, and kept in the Russian Federation without her father's consent. Mark has and continues to diligently pursue all legal avenues in both Canadian and Russian courts to secure his daughter's return.
Monika cannot independently or freely communicate with Mark, understand court orders, or advocate for herself. Every month of separation can be irreversible to a toddler’s healthy development. This is a race against time to reunite a very young child with her loving parent and to come home.
Despite Mark's relentless efforts, which include successfully securing Ontario Superior Court of Justice final orders that, by law, Monika's habitual residence (legal place of residence) is Cookstown, Ontario, Canada, and that Monika's mother, Tegmina Agadzhanyan, wrongfully removed Monika to the Russia and that Monika is to be immediately returned to Mark's care (primary residence, or physical custody), plus a Canada-wide arrest warrant for Agadzhanyan in relation to two criminal charges contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada, the response from the federal government has been passive.
As a loving father and as a proud Canadian, Mark has been deprived of the ability to raise, protect, and care for his child in their home country.
This case highlights the serious vulnerabilities faced by children and parents of children abducted to countries where enforcing foreign court orders are incredibly challenging.
Without sustained legal, diplomatic, and social advocacy efforts, children like Monika risk becoming permanently separated from one parent and their home country.
Canada’s commitment to the rule of law, child welfare, and the protection of its citizens does not stop at its borders. Monika’s case tests our collective commitment to justice and fairness. Mark has complied with all laws, legal processes and court directives, and now Mark and Monika are waiting for intervention from Canada and Russia too.
Mark has obtained the necessary Ontario court orders to compel Monika’s return and he continues to do everything within his power as a parent to tell the Russian courts why Monika’s swift return to Canada is so important. Simultaneous Canadian governmental and diplomatic aid is vital to his Russian court cases and to his daughter’s safe return.
Mark and Monika's next step is convincing the Canadian government to liaise with the Russian government about their case. Mark has already written to the Department of Justice (Minister of Justice/Attorney General of Canada), Global Affairs Canada (Minister of Foreign Affairs), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), his federal MP, John Brassard, and Canadian and Russian embassies and consulates, on numerous occasions.
The South Simcoe Police Service have contacted the Department of Justice’s International Assistance Group, Criminal Law Operations Section, with a request to engage the Russian Ministry of Justice and related Russian authorities regarding the matter.
By taking action, Canadian authorities can uphold international standards on the return of abducted children. This will set a precedent for how such cases are handled promptly and equitably.
We call upon the Global Affairs Canada and the Department of Justice/Attorney General of Canada to leverage diplomatic channels to engage with Russian counterparts, seeking a peaceful and lawful resolution that prioritizes Monika's well-being. It is imperative that the federal government utilize its resources and existing international frameworks to facilitate the return of this young child to her rightful home in Canada.
This intergovernmental co-operation could also include invoking signed bilateral treaties between Russia and Canada that require mutual legal assistance for criminal matters, specifically regarding the criminal charges against Agadzhanyan, which were laid by the South Simcoe police.
(The name of the treaty is the “Treaty Between Canada and the Russian Federation on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters” and the official text can be found here: https://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/text-texte.aspx?id=101654
Please join us in urging the Canadian government to step up and provide the necessary action in this dire situation. Every signature counts.
Legal and political delays increase the possibility that Mark and Monika's devastating situation becomes irreversible. Immediate resources and active voices are needed to bring Monika back before critical legal and diplomatic windows close. On behalf of Mark and Monika’s loved ones, thank you for donating, signing and sharing their petition.
For more information, please see Mark's GoFundMe page here: X.
For media coverage, please follow these links:
For questions or concerns, please contact Mark at BringMonikaHome@gmail.com or his legal counsel Rebecca Ying at ry@ryfamilylaw.ca and James Gilbert at jgilbert@gilbertlawgroup.ca.
453
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Petition created on January 23, 2026