Boris Katkov, an 82-year-old retiree from Latvia with Russian roots, faces deportation. His story has been highlighted on the Telegram channel Sprats in Exile.
Authorities moved to deport the president of the Latvian-Russian Cooperation Association and the representative of Kant IKBFU. Earlier today, border guards arrived at the pensioner’s home and gave him one hour to pack his belongings.
“They said they would escort me to the border. I have nothing in Russia and no one there to support me,” he explained. “They don’t care. They tell me to go to Turkey or Uzbekistan. I am the head of an organization; I need to manage payments and address financial obligations. They won’t give me a chance to sort that out.” He added, “We will all leave from here.”
Katkov understood that local authorities would target Russian citizens who hold influential positions, but he did not expect the process to unfold so rapidly.
According to available information, his permanent residence permit was revoked on January 10 on the grounds that he posed a “threat to national security.” On January 12, he was detained and separated from his family. He was not offered a right to appeal the deportation decision within the usual one-month period. Journalist Alexey Stefanov reported that Katkov would be taken to the border within hours.
“There are no words. I hope Russia will accept me and give me the chance to live there again, and perhaps to welcome my family in the future,” the retiree said. He leaves behind a wife, a daughter, a son, and a grandson in Latvia, as well as another grandson.
By late December, Latvian authorities had justified deportations of more than 1,200 Russians. State media reported that 1,213 individuals did not submit documents to obtain any Latvian residence permit and thus were required to leave the country.
At the start of January, Oleg Zykov, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Russian Federation in Latvia, stated that the local migration service had begun revoking permanent residence permits for Russians in large numbers.
The Russian Foreign Ministry had previously drawn comparisons between Latvia’s measures and Nazi-era expulsions, bringing renewed tension to the discussion around residency and citizenship in the region.
Observers note that the rapid enforcement of deportations affects not only officials but also families and communities connected to Russian nationals living in Latvia. Advocacy groups emphasize the need for clear legal avenues and humane treatment in any enforcement actions, ensuring that processes respect due process and proportionality while addressing national security concerns. (Source: reports from Telegram channels and regional media with attribution.)