Novik, Alfons Andreevich

(1908–1996)

   A Latvian revolutionary, Novik was made head of the Latvian republic’s NKVD when the Soviet Union occupied Latvia in 1940, and he took part in the massive deportation of Latvians exiled to Siberia. During World War II, he worked with Latvian and Russian partisans as part of the NKVD’s Fourth Directorate. Following the war, he served as republic security chief. He was promoted to major general and highly decorated for his service to Moscow. In 1953 he became deputy minister of agriculture. Novik’s life took a turn for the worse in 1991, however. He was named a war criminal for his role in Latvia in the Soviet period. Imprisoned in 1994, he died in confinement. Novik, whose name in Latvian would be Noviks, was seen as a man who betrayed his country, literally changing his name to please Moscow. He was one of the few citizens of the former Soviet Union who were punished for crimes against humanity.