Deported Belarusian returned to Russia for the ashes of his deceased wife — and received nine months in a penal colony
The judge ruled that these were not circumstances that justified violating the entry ban.
The Nevelskiy District Court of the Pskov Region of Russia sentenced Belarusian A. Katseba for returning to Russia despite having an entry ban.
As follows from the appeal decision of May 20, 2026, the story began back in 2023. At that time, the Moskovsky District Court of St. Petersburg sentenced Katseba to three years in prison for drugs (Part 2, Article 228 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). In September 2025, he was conditionally released, but at the same time, his stay in Russia was deemed undesirable, and a deportation order was issued. The man was banned from entering Russia for five years and was warned in writing that violating the ban would lead to a criminal case. On the same day, he was deported to Belarus.
However, in January 2026, Katseba decided to return to St. Petersburg — according to him, to retrieve the ashes of his deceased wife and sort out the apartment in the village of Shushary.
The man bought a ticket for the international train "Gomel — St. Petersburg". An hour and a half after crossing the border, he was removed from the train and detained by the FSB Border Service.
On March 17, 2026, the Nevelskiy District Court found Katseba guilty of illegal border crossing (Part 2, Article 322 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) and sentenced him to nine months in a strict regime penal colony.
In the autumn of 2026, Katseba will be released — and once again deported. He will again be unable to retrieve his wife's ashes and resolve issues with the apartment.
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