Viktor Shilov, a father of seven from Kamensk-Uralsky, narrowly avoided deportation from Russia yesterday after an investigator intervened at the last moment. Shilov, who was born in the Uzbek SSR to a Russian family and has lived in the Urals for 22 years, faced deportation due to issues with his documents and was initially denied asylum.

Shilov was already at the check-in counter with his ticket for Uzbekistan when the investigator’s call came, leading to his release. According to Shilov, officers escorting him were surprised when they received instructions to remove his handcuffs and release him.

The investigator informed the officers that Shilov’s citizenship was already being processed. Shilov is currently at the Center for Temporary Detention of Foreign Citizens (CVSIG) awaiting his passport. He plans to return to his family and complete his remaining documents.

Shilov expressed gratitude to those who supported him, particularly Lyudmila Lukasheva, who advocated for him. He also intends to register his marriage to ensure everything is legal.

The incident highlights a concerning trend of Russian-speaking individuals born in former Soviet republics facing deportation from the Sverdlovsk region. Similar cases, such as the Morozov family, have garnered attention and, in some instances, have been overturned with public support. Another recent case involved a defense plant worker deported for failing to comply with fingerprinting requirements.