Boris Kowerda, also known as Koverda, born 21 August 1907 in Vilnius (Wilno) then part of the Russian Empire, was the son of a public school teacher, a Socialist Revolutionary of Poleshuk origin, Sofron Iosifovich Kowerda, who was a participant in the White movement during the Russian Civil War and on the side of the Germans during World War II.

From 1915 to 1920, he was with his mother Anna Antonova and sisters Irina and Lyudmila during the evacuations in Samara, where he witnessed the Red Terror, in particular, the death of his cousin and the execution of a family friend, the priest Lebedev.

According to the teachers of the Wilno Russian gymnasium, Kowerda gave the impression of a very intelligent, modest, slightly timid, withdrawn and uncommunicative young man.

Kowerda later told police he targeted Voykov not only because he was the representative of the Soviet system which had killed millions of his countrymen, but was one of the men directly involved in the planning and execution of the murder of the imperial family.

Despite official condemnations by the Polish government and diplomatic corps and messages of condolence to the Soviet Union and to the relations of Voykov, many people in Poland regarded Kowerda as a hero; public opinion was full of understanding, and even sympathy, for the assassin.

The chairman of the court was I. Humiński, with the participation of prosecutor K. Rudnicki, and the lawyers were Paweł Andrejew, Marian Niedzielski, Franciszek Paschalski, and Mieczysław Etzinger.

The outbreak of World War II found Kowerda in Poland, from where he returned to Yugoslavia, where his occupation was interrupted by the German invasion in the spring of 1941.

To him communism is no more only a threat to the existence of his country of birth, it is a fire that if not localized or extinguished will burn to the roots all that the rest of the world still considers as having everlasting value: family standards, morals, ethics, religion, and just human decency.

The admission to the United States of a man of the moral integrity and fortitude of a Boris Kowerda should not be feared for reasons of safeguarding our country from undesirable elements, because he may prove, if admitted, to become a loyal and useful member of the American community.

A favorable review of his case is herewith respectfully requested.Kowerda lived in New York City and Hyattsville, Maryland, and was active in the Russian-American immigrant community.

Kowerda was immortalized in a poem by Russian émigré poet, translator and writer Konstantin Balmont alongside other anti-communist fighters: Люба мне буква «Ка»,Вокруг неё сияет бисер.Пусть вечно светит свет венцаБойцам Каплан и Каннегисер.И да запомнят все, в ком естьЛюбовь к родимой, честь во взгляде,Отмстили попранную честьБорцы Коверда и Конради.Translation: I love the letter "Ka",Beads shine around her.May the light of the crown shine foreverTo fighters Kaplan and Kannegiser.And may everyone remember who they haveLove for your darling, honor in your eyes,Trampled honor avengedFighters Coverda and Conradi.Some Orthodox and anti-communist groups in Russia have called for the Voykovskaya Metro (named after Voykov) in Moscow to be renamed in honor of Kowerda.