82-year-old head of Latvia-Russia Association expelled from Latvia
Pravda Ukraine
Boris Katkov, the head of the Latvia-Russia Cooperation Association Board and a citizen of the Russian Federation, was expelled from Latvia.
Source: LSM
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 many years 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 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 commissariat in the city of Cēsis, then in Daugavpils. He retired with the rank of colonel in 1991. Katkov received a passport of a non-citizen of Latvia in 1998, and in 2000 took Russian citizenship. Due to his age, he was exempt from passing the exam in the Latvian language, he 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).
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