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Latvia’s Foreign Ministry said a Russian citizen was added to its list of people barred from entering the country on October 7, but it has not identified that person. Meduza reports that journalist Leonid Ragozin may be the target; he says he cannot safely return, while Latvian authorities have not publicly confirmed his identity or contacted him directly.
Russian journalist Leonid Ragozin says he cannot return to Latvia because he fears authorities could begin deportation proceedings, after politicians publicly urged that he be declared an undesirable person. Latvia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that a Russian citizen was added to its entry-ban list on October 7, but has declined to identify the person; Ragozin’s inclusion has been reported by Delfi and Politico, not confirmed publicly by the ministry.
Ragozin told Meduza that he was already outside Latvia when the controversy unfolded, for reasons unrelated to the case. He said the government had neither contacted him directly nor publicly named him, and that no announcement identifying him had appeared on the Foreign Ministry’s website. Even so, he believes there is a substantial risk that he could face proceedings if he returns. He said he expects he would be deported to Russia, where he fears imprisonment.
The pressure intensified in late September, ahead of Latvia’s parliamentary elections. Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava called on Foreign Minister Baiba Braže to declare Ragozin an “undesirable person,” accusing him of justifying Russian aggression and discrediting Ukraine. Dombrava belongs to the National Alliance, a party Ragozin had written about in an investigative report. The politicians publicly disputed which ministry should handle the matter, while other figures from the party also urged action.
Latvia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Līga Jermacāne told Meduza that the ministry had begun the process of adding a Russian citizen to the list. In its written response, the ministry said that another Russian citizen was added on October 7 and that it would not disclose the person’s identity or the decision-making process. It cited Latvia’s immigration law and said decisions are made in cooperation with relevant authorities.
A Journalist’s Right to Challenge Expulsion
The dispute raises questions about how Latvia can restrict a journalist’s entry and whether a person affected can learn about or contest that decision. Ragozin is outside the country and, by his account, has received no direct notice. Sabīne Sīle, head of Media Hub Riga, which supports journalists from Russia and Belarus who have found refuge in Latvia, told Meduza she believes the case could set a dangerous precedent because Ragozin may have no way to defend himself in court.
The case also matters because Ragozin spent 12 years building a life in Latvia after leaving Russia following its annexation of Crimea. He obtained permanent residency and worked for Western media outlets. The possibility of being barred from the country he calls home, and potentially sent to Russia, makes the dispute more than an argument over political speech: it concerns his safety, residence and ability to return.
That impact remains conditional. Latvia has not publicly confirmed that Ragozin is the person named in its decision, and the available reporting does not establish that deportation proceedings have begun. His concern is a stated fear of what could happen if he returns, rather than a confirmed order to deport him.
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Years of Conflict With Latvian Politicians
Ragozin’s disagreements with Latvian politicians predate the current decision. In 2019, he coauthored a report with Sanita Jemberga of the investigative center Re:Baltica about alleged links between National Alliance members, Ukrainian far-right groups and Russian neo-Nazis. After publication, he faced criticism and threats of deportation, according to Meduza’s account.
In 2022, then-Defense Minister Artis Pabriks described Ragozin as a “possible Russian agent of influence” after he gave an interview about Russian journalists’ views on the war. Pabriks accused him of repeating Russian propaganda narratives. Ragozin’s critics have since framed his statements about the war and Ukraine as justification of Russian aggression; those are accusations made by officials, not findings established in the material provided.
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 chair of the Latvian Association of Journalists, Anastasija Tetarenko-Supe, told Novaya Gazeta Europe that the association supported Re:Baltica. On October 12, journalists in exile published a letter defending Ragozin and addressing two U.N. special rapporteurs. Meduza reported that 143 people had signed it by publication time.
“I can’t go back right now.”
— Leonid Ragozin, speaking to Meduza
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Ragozin’s Status Remains Unconfirmed
The central question remains unanswered: Latvia has not said whether Ragozin is the Russian citizen added to the list. The ministry confirmed the October 7 addition but refused to name the person, and the government has not, according to Ragozin, contacted him directly. Reports by Delfi and Politico identify him as the likely target, but that identification has not been confirmed by Latvian officials.
It is also unclear what procedure would apply if Ragozin returned, whether he could challenge a decision, or whether any removal action has been initiated. Ragozin fears he would be deported to Russia and face prison, but that is his stated concern, not a confirmed outcome. The source material does not provide a response from the authorities addressing his individual circumstances.
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Official Identification and Legal Options
The next key development would be an official confirmation of who was added to the list and whether the decision applies to Ragozin. The Foreign Ministry has said it will provide no further information about the identity or decision-making process, so the timing and likelihood of clarification are unknown.
Ragozin’s immediate position, as described to Meduza, is that he cannot return safely while the risk remains. Journalists in exile have appealed to two U.N. special rapporteurs through their October 12 letter. Whether Ragozin can obtain formal notice or challenge any restriction in court remains unresolved.
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Key Questions
Has Latvia confirmed that Leonid Ragozin was banned from entering?
No. The Foreign Ministry confirmed that a Russian citizen was added to its list on October 7, 2026, but did not name that person. Delfi and Politico have reported that the person is Ragozin.
Why does Ragozin say he cannot return to Latvia?
He told Meduza he fears that returning could lead to proceedings against him and deportation to Russia. He says Latvian officials have not contacted him directly; no deportation proceedings are confirmed in the source material.
What did Latvian politicians accuse Ragozin of?
Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava accused him of justifying Russian aggression and discrediting Ukraine. Those are the minister’s allegations; the source material does not establish them as official findings.
What has Latvia’s Foreign Ministry said?
The ministry said it added another Russian citizen to the list on October 7 and would not disclose the person’s identity or details of the decision-making process. It said decisions are made under Latvia’s immigration law and in cooperation with relevant authorities.
Source: rss
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