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Latvia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that a Russian citizen was added to its list of people barred from the country on October 7, but it has not disclosed the person’s identity. Media reports identify journalist Leonid Ragozin, who says he fears returning to Latvia after 12 years there; he says the authorities have not contacted him directly.
Latvia has added a Russian citizen to its list of people whose presence in the country is considered undesirable, but has not identified the person. The decision follows public calls to bar journalist Leonid Ragozin; Delfi and Politico identified him as the person listed, while Ragozin told Meduza he fears returning to Latvia, where he says he spent 12 years building a life.
The Latvian Foreign Ministry confirmed to Meduza that it added “another citizen of the Russian Federation” to the list on October 7. It declined to name the person or provide details about the decision-making process. Ministry spokesperson Līga Jermacāne said the ministry had begun the process of adding a Russian citizen, but the official response did not confirm whether that person was Ragozin.
Ragozin told Meduza he was already outside Latvia for unrelated reasons when politicians began calling for action against him. He said he has not received direct notice from the government and has seen no public announcement naming him, but believes there is a substantial risk he could face deportation proceedings if he returns. He told Meduza he fears he would be deported to Russia, where, he said, his critics understand that he could be imprisoned.
The calls against him came in late September, ahead of Latvia’s parliamentary elections. Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava accused Ragozin of justifying Russian aggression and discrediting Ukraine, and urged Foreign Minister Baiba Braže to declare him undesirable. Dombrava belongs to the National Alliance, a party Ragozin had reported on. The Foreign Ministry has not publicly linked its October 7 decision to those calls.
A Ban Could Reshape Exile in Latvia
The case has drawn attention because Latvia has been a place of refuge for journalists who left Russia and Belarus. Ragozin has permanent residency in Latvia and has written for Western media, according to Meduza. If the reports identifying him are accurate, his case would raise questions about how authorities can restrict an exile journalist’s ability to return—and what legal avenues are available to challenge the decision.
Sabīne Sīle, head of Media Hub Riga, which supports journalists from Russia and Belarus, told Meduza the situation could set a dangerous precedent because Ragozin may have no way to defend himself in court. That is her assessment; the legal position and any route of appeal in Ragozin’s case have not been established publicly.
The debate also carries political weight. Ragozin’s earlier reporting concerned links between National Alliance members and Ukrainian far-right groups and Russian neo-Nazis. The party’s role in the current dispute has prompted scrutiny, but the available reporting does not establish that the party’s prior conflict with Ragozin caused the ministry’s decision.
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Years of Disputes Before the Listing
Ragozin’s conflict with Latvian politicians predates the current listing. In 2019, he coauthored a report with Sanita Jemberga of investigative center Re:Baltica about alleged ties between National Alliance members and Ukrainian far-right groups and Russian neo-Nazis. Meduza reports that he faced criticism and threats of deportation after publication.
In 2022, after Ragozin gave an interview about Russian journalists’ views on the war, then-Defense Minister Artis Pabriks called him a “possible Russian agent of influence” and accused him of repeating Russian propaganda narratives. Those were Pabriks’ claims, not findings cited in the ministry’s current public explanation.
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 Novaya Gazeta Europe. On October 12, Russian journalists in exile published a letter defending Ragozin and addressed it to two U.N. special rapporteurs; 143 people had signed it at the time of Meduza’s report.
““We confirm that another citizen of the Russian Federation was added to this list on October 7, 2026.””
— Latvian Foreign Ministry, in a response to Meduza
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Ragozin’s Status Remains Unconfirmed
Latvia has not named the person added to the list, and Ragozin says officials have not contacted him. Delfi and Politico reported that he is the person affected, but the Foreign Ministry’s public statement does not confirm that identification. It is also unclear what evidence or specific reasoning informed the decision, because the ministry declined to disclose its process.
Ragozin’s concern that he could be deported to Russia is his stated fear, not a confirmed outcome. The source material does not establish whether Latvian authorities have opened deportation proceedings, whether Ragozin has a formal avenue to challenge the listing, or what would happen if he attempted to return.
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Official Notice Could Clarify His Position
The immediate question is whether Latvia will publicly identify the Russian citizen added to the list or notify Ragozin directly. The Foreign Ministry has said it will not provide further information about the identity or decision-making process, so no public clarification is assured.
Ragozin’s return plans remain uncertain while he believes he risks being stopped or facing deportation proceedings. The letter from journalists in exile has been sent to two U.N. special rapporteurs, but the source material does not report a response. Any further official notice, legal challenge or response from the Latvian government could clarify what restrictions apply and whether Ragozin can contest them.
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Key Questions
Has Latvia confirmed that Leonid Ragozin was banned?
No. The Foreign Ministry confirmed that a Russian citizen was added to its list on October 7 but did not identify the person. Delfi and Politico reported that it was Ragozin.
Why are politicians calling for action against Ragozin?
Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava accused him of justifying Russian aggression and discrediting Ukraine. Ragozin’s reporting about National Alliance members had previously drawn political criticism. The ministry has not publicly explained its decision.
Has Ragozin been contacted by Latvian authorities?
Ragozin told Meduza that he had not been contacted directly. He said there had been no public Foreign Ministry announcement naming him.
Why does Ragozin say he is afraid to return?
He told Meduza he believes returning could lead to deportation proceedings and said he fears being sent to Russia, where he believes he could be imprisoned. No deportation proceedings have been confirmed in the source material.
Source: rss
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