82-year-old chairman of Latvia-Russia Association expelled from Latvia

Boris Katkov, the chairman of the  Latvia-Russia Cooperation Association Board and a citizen of the Russian Federation, has been expelled from Latvia.

Details: At the initiative of the Latvian State Security Service (VDD), the Minister of Internal Affairs of Latvia, Rihards Kozlovskis, added Katkov to the list of undesirable persons in the country “for his long-term and systematic activities carried out in Russia’s favour.” Katkov was subsequently expelled from the country.

According to Katkov, on 10 January, he received a letter signed by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Latvia stating that he was a threat to national security and would be deported. On the morning of 12 January, border guards came to the 82-year-old man, gave him an hour to pack and escorted him to the border. In the evening of the same day, Katkov crossed the Russian border at the Terehova-Burachki checkpoint in Pskov Oblast.

According to information from open sources, Boris Katkov arrived in Latvia in 1966. At first he worked in the military enlistment office in the city of Cēsis, then in Daugavpils. He retired with the rank of colonel in 1991. Katkov received a passport as a non-citizen of Latvia in 1998, and in 2000 took Russian citizenship. Due to his age, he was exempt from passing the Latvian language exam and submitted the remaining documents for obtaining a permanent residence permit.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called Katkov’s deportation a “provocative” action, the purpose of which is to “intimidate Russian-speaking residents of Latvia.” The Russian Embassy in Latvia described the actions of Latvia as “absolutely cynical”, and committed in violation of “the principle intended to prevent the separation of family members”  (Katkov left his wife, children and grandchildren in Latvia).

 

IVASHKIV OLENA

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