Latvia Moves to Expel Russian Journalist Leonid Ragozin, Delfi Reports

Oct. 7, 2026 Leonid Ragozin. Facebook Latvian authorities have launched proceedings to declare Riga-based Russian journalist Leonid Ragozin persona non grata, Delfi reported Tuesday. While Ragozin was not identified by name, Foreign Minister Baiba Braže announced blacklisting proceedings against a Russian citizen based on new information from “competent authorities” and discussions with the prime minister. Sources familiar with the matter told Delfi that the move targets Ragozin, who has resided in Latvia since around the time of Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. There was no indication when the decision would be made. Ragozin drew public ire for comments he made on a podcast hosted by Aaron Maté of fringe far-left outlet The Grayzone, which has been accused of taking a pro-Russian slant. He argued that Russia was compelled to respond to the West with “brute force,” saying, "[Russia] always consider themselves as the underdogs and as the side that is being under constant pressure from the West, encroaching on its sphere of influence, on its strategic interests. It compels them to respond to hybrid actions, to clandestine actions, to sort of invisible actions that change the landscape in the former Soviet Union. Late last month, Latvian Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava urged the foreign ministry to declare Ragozin a persona non grata due to “opinions that are in blatant contradiction to the interests of the Latvian state.” “His actions can be regarded as ones aimed at steering Western public opinion in a direction favorable to Russia,” Dombrava wrote on Sept. 30. 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. In an August column for The American Conservative, Ragozin argued that ordinary Russians perceive greater threats from Western nations than from their own government. On Wednesday, Ragozin thanked supporters while criticizing those reacting to the news of the proceedings to declare him persona non grata with “sadistic glee.” Latvia has declared dozens of Russian cultural figures, state journalists and commentators personae non gratae since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 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 Russian Who Swam to Lithuania to Seek Asylum Gets 6 Years in Russian Prison After Return The man, identified as 68-year-old Igor Odintsov, said he faced persecution in Russia over his social media posts. 2 Min read Rosatom Takes Full Control of Transport Conglomerate Delo Group in $900M Buyout The deal reportedly brings Rosatom’s market share in Russia’s container handling market to 50% and rail container transport to 44%. 1 Min read Kremlin Says France's Test Nuclear Launch Is Part of 'Dead End' Anti-Russia Strategy Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia had received France's message and that it was an example of what he called Europe's obsession with militarization. 1 Min read Northern Russia’s Yamalo-Nenets Offers 1M-Ruble Bounty for Downed Drones It is reportedly the highest publicly recorded bounty offered by any Russian region for downing Ukrainian drones. 1 Min read