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Leonid Ragozin says Latvian authorities notified him on October 13, 2026, that he is being expelled after living in the country for 12 years. He says the notice gave no specific reason; Latvia has not publicly identified him or detailed the grounds in the reporting cited by Meduza.
Latvia has notified Russian journalist Leonid Ragozin that it is expelling him, he said on October 14, after living in the country for 12 years. Ragozin says the notice did not specify the conduct behind the decision, while Latvian authorities have not publicly disclosed his identity or detailed the grounds in the reporting cited by Meduza.
“I can now confirm that yesterday I was notified of my expulsion from Latvia where I lived for 12 years,” Ragozin wrote on social media, according to Meduza. He said the notice did not cite “any specific misdemeanors or statements” that prompted the decision. Ragozin also said he had been declared persona non grata, a designation he argued was intended for diplomats with immunity rather than ordinary residents.
Ragozin characterized the expulsion as political persecution. He alleged that it was retaliation by far-right politicians over his investigation into their ties to Russian neo-Nazis who had taken refuge in Kyiv. He also linked the decision to his commentary on Russia’s war against Ukraine and his reporting on the Pavel Sheremet investigation. Those explanations are Ragozin’s claims; the material reported by Meduza does not include a Latvian government response addressing them.
Latvian media reported in early October that the Foreign Ministry had started proceedings to declare “another Russian citizen” persona non grata. Foreign Minister Baiba Braže said the decision was based on information from “the competent authorities,” following consultations with the interior minister and prime minister. The ministry did not name the person at the time. Meduza says the Latvian outlet Delfi reported that the person was Ragozin.
Expulsion Raises Questions About Grounds
The case brings a state decision affecting a journalist into focus while the specific grounds remain undisclosed in the available reporting. Without a published explanation, readers cannot independently assess whether the measure relates to security information, immigration rules, the journalist’s work, or another basis. Ragozin disputes the decision and describes it as political retaliation, but that account has not been substantiated by an official explanation in the cited coverage.
For Ragozin, the immediate consequence is that he may no longer remain in Latvia, where he says he has lived since 2014. The decision also raises practical questions about when he must leave, whether he can challenge it, and where he will go. The source material does not provide answers to those questions or establish whether the expulsion has already taken effect.
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Ragozin’s Reporting and Years in Latvia
Ragozin worked in Russia as a correspondent and producer for BBC Russia from 1998 to 2013, according to Meduza, and later served as an editor at Russian Newsweek magazine. He also collaborated with Lonely Planet. He moved to Latvia after Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. More recently, his work has appeared with Al Jazeera, Jacobin and The American Conservative.
The latest notification follows reports in early October that Latvia was preparing to declare an unnamed Russian citizen persona non grata. Braže said the decision followed consultations with senior government officials and relied on information supplied by competent authorities. Ragozin’s statement now identifies him as the person affected, but the Latvian government has not publicly confirmed that identification in the material cited by Meduza.
““I can now confirm that yesterday I was notified of my expulsion from Latvia where I lived for 12 years.””
— Leonid Ragozin, in a social media post quoted by Meduza
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Official Reasons and Appeal Status
The cited report does not include the full expulsion notice, a detailed statement of Latvia’s legal grounds, or a direct government confirmation naming Ragozin. It is also unclear whether the authorities have responded to his claim that the decision is political retaliation. His account of what the notice contains and his explanation of the alleged motive should be treated as his statements, not as independently established findings.
The report does not say when Ragozin is required to leave, whether he can appeal or seek a review, or whether he has taken any legal steps. It also does not establish whether he has left Latvia or where he intends to live next.
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Next Steps for Ragozin and Latvia
The next developments to watch are whether Latvian officials publicly confirm the decision, release its legal basis, or clarify the departure deadline and any appeal process. Ragozin’s response and any legal challenge could also provide more information about how the order will be handled.
For now, the confirmed development in Meduza’s report is that Ragozin says he received expulsion notice. The official rationale, the order’s practical timetable and its final outcome remain unknown in the material available.
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Key Questions
Who is Leonid Ragozin?
Ragozin is a Russian journalist who worked for BBC Russia and Russian Newsweek and has collaborated with outlets including Al Jazeera, Jacobin and The American Conservative. He says he has lived in Latvia for 12 years.
When was Ragozin notified of his expulsion?
Ragozin said he was notified “yesterday” in a social media post reported by Meduza on October 14, 2026. That places the notification on October 13, 2026.
Has Latvia explained why it is expelling him?
The cited reporting does not provide a detailed official explanation naming Ragozin. He says his notice cited no specific misconduct or statements; Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže had previously said the broader decision was based on information from competent authorities.
Why does Ragozin say the decision was made?
Ragozin alleges that the expulsion is political retaliation connected to his reporting on far-right politicians’ alleged ties to Russian neo-Nazis in Kyiv, his commentary on Russia’s war against Ukraine and his work on the Pavel Sheremet investigation. These are his claims, and the cited report does not independently confirm the alleged motive.
Has Ragozin left Latvia or appealed the decision?
The cited report does not say whether he has left, when he must depart, or whether he plans to appeal. Those details remain unclear.
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