Latvia Formally Blacklists Russian Journalist Leonid Ragozin

Oct. 14, 2026 Leonid Ragozin. Social media Latvian authorities have formally declared Riga-based Russian journalist Leonid Ragozin persona non grata, local media reported, and Ragozin himself confirmed on Wednesday. Latvian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Līga Jermacāne told the outlet Delfi that an unidentified Russian national was added to the persona non grata list last Wednesday. Foreign Ministry adviser Toms Sadovskis said the basis for the decision will be withheld for “national security” reasons. On Wednesday, Ragozin confirmed that he was notified of his expulsion the day before. Ragozin claimed he was blacklisted in retaliation for his critical reporting and commentary on Western policy and far-right political networks. He argued that Latvia intentionally declared him persona non grata to prevent him from appealing his expulsion in Latvian courts. “For me it is a huge personal tragedy. I am being evicted from my only beloved home, deprived of my circle of friendship and support,” Ragozin posted on X. In a Meduza interview published Tuesday, Ragozin said he was outside Latvia and expressed concerns that returning to Russia could put him at risk of imprisonment. Ragozin is a former producer for the BBC Russian Service and editor at Russian Newsweek. His freelance commentary has appeared in recent editions of Al Jazeera, Jacobin and The American Conservative. Ragozin drew public ire for comments he made on a far-left podcast where he argued that the Kremlin felt compelled to use “brute force” in response to Western encroachment on its sphere of influence. In Wednesday’s X post, Ragozin said, “I condemn the Russian aggression and support Ukraine’s sovereignty.” “But I’ll continue to criticize Western countries for mishandling this conflict,” he wrote. In an August column for The American Conservative, Ragozin argued that ordinary Russians perceive greater threats from Western nations than from their own government. Latvia has declared more than 150 Russian cultural figures, state journalists and commentators personae non grata since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Read more about: Latvia , Sanctions Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Latvia Parliament Bans Food Imports From Russia, Belarus Earlier this month, thousands of farmers demonstrated to call for a ban on Russian grain — which they said was funding the Kremlin's war efforts in Ukraine... 1 Min read Kazakhstan Won't Help Russia to Bust Sanctions – President "Kazakhstan has unambiguously stated that it will follow the sanctions regime," said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev following talks in Berlin with German... 2 Min read Russia Approaches Chinese Firms to Revive Soviet-Era Moskvitch Cars – Reports Moscow’s mayor announced plans to bring back the model after nationalizing the city's Renault-owned car plant. Latvia Bans 9 Russian TV Stations Over Ties to Sanctioned Billionaire Yury Kovalchuk, a banker close to President Vladimir Putin, has been on the EU blacklist since 2014.