July 29, 2024

Paddleboarding Down to Russia


Paddleboarding Down to Russia
Zilupe (Sinyaya) River, Latvia. J.Sedols, Wikimedia Commons.

Latvian pro-Kremlin activist Stanislav Bukains and his five-year-old daughter illegally crossed the border with Russia on a paddleboard, traveling down the Zilupe River (Sinyaya in Russian). Shortly before this escapade, Bukains had been released on bail after being accused of leading a criminal enterprise that collected information on Latvian politicians who opposed Russia.

Bukains was suspected of leading the "Baltic Anti-Fascists," a Telegram channel that shared sensitive data on anti-Kremlin Latvian politicians to Russian intelligence. Latvian authorities found that three Latvian citizens located in Russia were behind the site. In response, they opened a criminal investigation for treason.

Bukains was arrested in March 2023 in connection with the "Baltic Anti-Fascists" case. However, he was released after paying a bail of €40,000 ($43,486). On July 21, Bukains did not return his daughter, Monika Bukaine, to her residence in Latvia.  Shortly after, both were found on a paddleboard in Pskov, Russia.

Bukains asked Russian authorities for political asylum, claiming he was being accused of being a spy because he had previously traveled to Russia. The pro-Kremlin activist claimed he was on "special lists" of citizens accused of recruiting fighters for Russia's war on Ukraine. Meanwhile, Latvian police opened a criminal case against Bukains for the abduction of a minor.

Bukains is the seventh pro-Kremlin Latvian to flee to Russia or Belarus after being released from prison. In July, the governor of the Pskov Oblast, Mikhail Vedernikov, announced that "centers of temporary residence" would be opened for residents of Latvia expelled for failing the Latvian language state exam. Vedernikov said: "Come back home; we are waiting for you."

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