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Leonid Ragozin says Latvian authorities notified him on October 13 that he is being expelled, after living in Latvia for 12 years. Latvia had previously confirmed it was moving to declare an unnamed Russian citizen persona non grata, but has not publicly disclosed the reasons for the decision.
Russian journalist Leonid Ragozin says Latvia notified him on October 13 that it is expelling him, ending his 12 years living in the country. Latvian officials have not publicly identified him as the person subject to the measure or set out the specific grounds for it.
“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 notification did not cite specific misdemeanors or statements that prompted the decision.
Ragozin said he had been declared persona non grata, a designation he described as intended for diplomats with immunity from prosecution rather than ordinary people. His account establishes what he says the notice conveyed; the full document and its legal basis have not been made public in the source reporting.
He characterized the expulsion as political persecution. Ragozin alleged it was the result of “long-brewing revenge” by far-right politicians over his reporting on their alleged 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 work on the Pavel Sheremet investigation. Those explanations are his claims, not publicly confirmed reasons from Latvian authorities.
A Journalist’s Status in Latvia
The notification puts a long-resident journalist’s right to remain in Latvia at issue and raises questions about the government’s grounds and process. For Ragozin, the immediate consequence is an order to leave, though the available report does not state a departure deadline or whether he can challenge the decision.
The case also matters because Latvian officials have described a security-related administrative decision without publicly naming the person involved or detailing the information behind it. The foreign minister said the measure followed consultations with senior government officials and was based on information from competent authorities. Without a public explanation or the notice itself, readers cannot independently assess the stated legal rationale or Ragozin’s allegations of political retaliation.
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From October Reports to Notice
In early October, Latvian media reported that the Foreign Ministry had begun proceedings to declare “another Russian citizen” persona non grata. Foreign Minister Baiba Braže said the decision was based on information from “the competent authorities” after consultations with the interior minister and prime minister. The government did not identify the person at that time.
Latvian outlet Delfi reported that Ragozin was the person concerned. The October 14 report by Meduza says Ragozin has now confirmed receiving formal notice. That sequence distinguishes the earlier media identification from the later statement by Ragozin himself; Latvia’s public statements, as described in the reporting, did not disclose his name.
Ragozin worked in Russia as a BBC Russia correspondent and producer from 1998 to 2013, and later as an editor at Russian Newsweek magazine. He also collaborated with Lonely Planet. He moved to Latvia after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and has since worked with outlets including Al Jazeera, Jacobin and The American Conservative.
““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, as quoted by Meduza
Grounds and Appeal Remain Unknown
The public record described in the report does not include the full expulsion notice, the specific legal provisions invoked, a deadline to leave, or details about any appeal or review process. It is also unclear whether Latvia will issue a public statement naming Ragozin or explaining its decision.
Ragozin’s claims that the expulsion is political retaliation have not been corroborated by the government. Officials have cited information from competent authorities, but the contents of that information and how it relates to Ragozin remain undisclosed in the available reporting.
Awaiting Latvia’s Public Explanation
The next developments to watch are whether Latvian authorities publicly confirm Ragozin’s identity, publish or describe the grounds for the decision, and clarify its effective date. Ragozin’s options and next steps will also depend on the terms of the notice and any review procedures available to him; those details have not been reported.
Until more information is released, the confirmed development is limited to Ragozin’s statement that he was notified of expulsion, alongside Latvia’s earlier confirmation that it was pursuing a persona non grata measure against an unnamed Russian citizen.
Key Questions
Who is Leonid Ragozin?
Leonid Ragozin is a Russian journalist who worked for BBC Russia and Russian Newsweek and later contributed to outlets including Al Jazeera, Jacobin and The American Conservative. He says he moved to Latvia in 2014 and had lived there for 12 years.
When did Latvia notify Ragozin?
Ragozin said he received the notification on October 13, 2026, and confirmed it publicly the following day.
Why is Latvia expelling him?
Latvia has not publicly detailed the grounds or officially named Ragozin in the reporting. He alleges the decision is political retaliation connected to his reporting and commentary; that explanation has not been confirmed by Latvian authorities.
What does persona non grata mean in this case?
Latvian officials had said they were pursuing a measure to declare an unnamed Russian citizen persona non grata. Ragozin says the notice applied that designation to him. The supplied report does not provide the legal text or explain the specific consequences and procedures attached to it.
Can Ragozin appeal or remain in Latvia?
The available reporting does not say whether he can appeal, how long he has to leave, or whether the decision can be suspended during a challenge. Those details depend on the notice and any applicable review process.
Source: rss
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