His parents were Russian spies whose international escapades became the fodder of an American television series.

On Thursday, Alexander Vavilov was himself thrust into a real-life drama when he received news from the Supreme Court of Canada that will forever impact his future.

According to the country’s highest court, Canada cannot take away the citizenship of the 25-year-old Canadian-born man, simply because his parents secretly worked for their Russian masters.

“This decision is a vindication of all the time, resources and effort I have poured into my struggle,” Vavilov said in a statement. “It is recognition that not only do I feel Canadian, but I am Canadian in the eyes of the law.”

Under Canada’s immigration law, children born here to “employees of a foreign government” are not eligible for citizenship by birth in the country. However, the court said that rule only applies to those foreign employees with diplomatic protection and immunity rights. Spies don’t enjoy those privileges.

In a unanimous judgment released Thursday, the Supreme Court rejected the argument by immigration officials that spies were “unofficial employees or representatives” of a foreign government.

Vavilov and his older brother, Timothy, were born in Toronto to parents using the aliases Donald Howard Heathfield and Tracey Lee Ann Foley. The family later moved to the United States via France.

Nine years ago, the parents were unmasked as Russian spies — Andrey Bezrukov and Elena Vavilova — and arrested by American officials. They were indicted on charges of conspiring to act as secret agents on behalf of Russia’s SVR, a successor to the notorious Soviet KGB. Their story became part of the Emmy-nominated television series, “The Americans.”

“The relief I feel reading the Supreme Court’s decision is indescribable,” Vavilov said. “After a decade of fighting for my rights, I can finally take a deep breath and relax, knowing that my citizenship is secure and no longer the subject of attacks, doubts and repeated reinterpretation. No longer will I have to live in purgatory. I can finally, unquestionably, exercise my rights and responsibilities as a Canadian citizen.”

After Vavilov’s parents were arrested, the family was sent back to Moscow as part of a swap for prisoners between Russia and the U.S. The brothers were travelling with their Canadian passports before running into a snag at the passport office in 2010. Ottawa finally stripped them of their citizenship in 2014.

In revoking their status, the Canadian citizenship registrar said their parents were employees of a foreign government at the time of their birth, making them ineligible for citizenship. The brothers subsequently asked the Federal Court of Canada to review the government decision and Vavilov’s case ended up before the Supreme Court. His brother’s case was not directly before the highest court because it’s been determined Vavilov’s case would deal with the same issues and its outcome would also apply to his sibling.

Vavilov’s lawyer Hadayt Nazami said Thursday’s court decision confirms it is a fundamental principle that persons who are born in Canada are Canadian citizens by right.

“The right of citizenship by birth is a presumptive one, the exception to this right cannot be vague. Everyone born in Canada is a citizen of Canada by virtue of having been born in Canada,” said Nazami.

“The exception to the right of citizenship applies not to all children of parents who are employees of a foreign government, but those employees of foreign governments who have diplomatic immunities and privileges in Canada. No other considerations can be used to deny the right of citizenship by birth.”

In its ruling, the Supreme Court said the citizenship registrar’s decision was unreasonable, criticizing her for failing to provide a proper rationale.

Vavilov said his legal battle wasn’t just for himself but also for others.

“With this victory comes the bitter realization of all the suffering I have had to endure to see my status as an ordinary Canadian restored,” Vavilov said. “For the better part of a decade, I was forced into exile from Canada. I was forced onto the public stage unwillingly and deprived of my ability to pursue a normal life.”

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Vavilov, who has been living outside of Canada, said he looks forward to rebuilding his life here.

“Having my citizenship finally respected brings me great joy,” he said. “I hope my long and litigious fight through the courts will at least bring some certainty and inspiration to other Canadians that may be defending their rights like I have had to do.”