TL;DR
Get travel and outdoor gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Latvia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that a Russian citizen was added to its list of people whose presence is undesirable on October 7, but it has not identified that person. Reports by Delfi and Politico say the person is journalist Leonid Ragozin, who says he fears being sent to Russia if he returns to Latvia. He says authorities have not contacted him, and his status remains unconfirmed.
Latvia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that it added an unnamed Russian citizen to its list of people whose presence in the country is undesirable on October 7, after Latvian politicians called for action against journalist Leonid Ragozin. Ragozin, who lived in Latvia for 12 years and has permanent residency, told Meduza he is afraid to return because he believes he could face deportation to Russia; the ministry has not confirmed that he is the person on the list.
Ragozin told Meduza he was already outside Latvia when the dispute escalated, for reasons unrelated to the campaign against him. He said he has received no direct notice from the government and has not been publicly named. The Foreign Ministry’s website, he said, also did not identify him. Despite those gaps, Ragozin said he believes returning could lead authorities to begin deportation proceedings.
Latvia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Līga Jermāčāne, confirmed to Meduza that the ministry had started the process of adding a Russian citizen to the list. In a written response, the ministry said an unnamed Russian citizen was added on October 7 and that it would provide no further details about the person or decision-making process. Reports by Delfi and Politico identified the person as Ragozin, but that identification has not been confirmed by the ministry.
The dispute became public in late September, when Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava urged Foreign Minister Baiba Braže to declare Ragozin undesirable. Dombrava accused him of justifying Russian aggression and discrediting Ukraine. Ragozin has rejected the premise that he should be sent to Russia, saying his critics understand deportation there could put him in prison. That is his assessment; the report does not establish what would happen if he were returned.
A Journalist’s Status and Due Process
The case has drawn attention from journalists because a listing that could keep Ragozin out of Latvia may affect a life he built there over 12 years. He moved from Russia after its annexation of Crimea, gained permanent residency, and wrote for Western media. He describes Latvia as his only home, while saying he cannot safely return under the present uncertainty.
Sabīne Sīle, head of Media Hub Riga, which supports journalists from Russia and Belarus who have found refuge in Latvia, said the case could set a dangerous precedent because Ragozin has no way to defend himself in court. The concern is sharpened by the government’s refusal to identify the person on the list. Whether Ragozin has a legal route to challenge a decision, if it is his, is not established in the available reporting.
The dispute also illustrates the tension between Latvia’s stated opposition to Russia’s war and the treatment of Russian journalists living in exile. Latvia’s Foreign Ministry says it acts under the country’s Immigration Law and in cooperation with relevant authorities. The available information does not explain what evidence or legal grounds were applied in this case.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
How the Latvia Dispute Developed
Ragozin’s conflict with Latvian politicians predates the current listing. In 2019, he co-wrote an investigation with Sanita Jemberga of Re:Baltica about links between members of the National Alliance party and Ukrainian far-right groups and Russian neo-Nazis. Ragozin faced criticism and threats of deportation after publication. Dombrava, who later called for action against him, is a member of that party.
In 2022, after Ragozin gave an interview about Russian journalists’ views on the war, then-Defense Minister Artis Pabriks described him as a “possible Russian agent of influence” and accused him of repeating Russian propaganda narratives. In late September 2026, Dombrava renewed the dispute by urging the foreign minister to designate Ragozin undesirable. Other politicians joined the calls. European Parliament member Rihards Kols argued that a persona non grata designation could avoid a court challenge that might follow an entry ban.
Re:Baltica said on October 7 that it had not worked with Ragozin since 2019 and described some of his social media statements as “unacceptable and condemnable.” The Latvian Association of Journalists said it stood with Re:Baltica, according to its board chair, Anastasija Tetarenko-Supe. On October 12, journalists in exile published a letter backing Ragozin and addressed to two U.N. special rapporteurs; 143 people had signed it at the time of the Meduza report.
“I can’t go back right now.”
— Leonid Ragozin, speaking to Meduza
Ragozin’s Listing Remains Unconfirmed
The central fact is still unresolved: Latvia has confirmed that a Russian citizen was added to the list, but has not said whether that person is Ragozin. The identification comes from Delfi and Politico, as reported by Meduza. Ragozin says the authorities have not contacted him, and no public announcement has named him.
It is also unclear what specific evidence or reasoning led to the listing, whether Ragozin can challenge it, and what process would apply if he attempted to return. His fear that he would be deported to Russia is his stated concern, not a confirmed government decision. Latvia’s Foreign Ministry declined to discuss the person’s identity or the decision-making process.
Official Notice or Legal Challenge
The next development may be direct notice to Ragozin or a public clarification from Latvian authorities, though the Foreign Ministry has said it will not provide further information. Until his identity is confirmed, his legal status in relation to the listing remains uncertain. If he is named, any available process for contesting the decision could become a central issue; the reporting does not establish what options he would have.
Ragozin’s immediate position, as described to Meduza, is that he cannot return to Latvia because of the risk he perceives. The government’s next public statement, if any, and any legal steps by Ragozin or his representatives will help clarify whether the dispute moves beyond political calls and an undisclosed designation.
Key Questions
Has Latvia confirmed that Leonid Ragozin is on its non grata list?
No. The Foreign Ministry confirmed that an unnamed Russian citizen was added on October 7, 2026, but did not identify the person. Delfi and Politico identified Ragozin, according to Meduza; the ministry has not confirmed that identification.
Why does Ragozin say he is afraid to return to Latvia?
Ragozin told Meduza he believes Latvian authorities could begin deportation proceedings if he returns and send him to Russia, where he fears he could be imprisoned. This is his stated concern, not a confirmed outcome.
What prompted Latvian politicians to call for action against him?
In late September 2026, Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava urged the foreign minister to declare Ragozin undesirable, accusing him of justifying Russian aggression and discrediting Ukraine. Ragozin’s earlier reporting about National Alliance members also forms part of the history of his dispute with Latvian politicians.
Can Ragozin challenge the listing in court?
That is not clear from the available reporting. A European Parliament member argued that an entry ban could be challenged in court, while Media Hub Riga’s head said the designation could leave Ragozin without a way to defend himself. The government has not explained what review or appeal process applies.
Source: rss
Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day Picks
long weekend sales
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
