Article content

A former KGB agent who spent six years hiding in a Vancouver church to avoid deportation to Russia has left Canada after surrendering to immigration enforcement authorities, his lawyer said Sunday.

Mikhail Lennikov, 55, voluntarily left the church in which he had sought sanctuary in 2009. He was escorted by Canada Border Services Agency officers to Toronto, where he boarded a flight to Moscow.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Ex-KGB agent leaves Canada after hiding in Vancouver church for six years to avoid deportation Back to video

“I can confirm he left, he’s no longer in the country,” said Hadayt Nazami, his Toronto immigration lawyer. “It was a voluntary departure through negotiations. He wasn’t deported.”

He declined to explain why Lennikov had decided to give up his fight. He said the Russian had been negotiating an agreement with the CBSA for some time. The deal did not involve Lennikov going to any country other than Russia, he said.

He confirmed CBSA officers had not entered the church. Lennikov still has several cases outstanding in the Canadian courts, Nazami added. “I’ll be continuing to represent him with those applications.”