Latvia's Foreign Minister launches process to blacklist Russian journalist Ragozin

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže, of the New Unity party, has decided to begin a procedure that could lead to Russian citizen Leonid Ragozin being added to Latvia's so-called "persona non grata" list — a register of individuals barred from staying in the country. Ragozin is publicly known as an independent journalist.

Braže announced the decision on social media platform X, stating that she made the call after reviewing information received that day from competent state authorities and after discussing the matter with the prime minister and the interior minister. While her post did not name the individual directly, the LETA news agency confirmed that the person in question is Ragozin.

Request originated in parliament

The matter had previously been raised by Edmunds Jurēvics, head of the New Unity parliamentary faction in the Saeima and a party colleague of Braže. Jurēvics had asked the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) to assess whether grounds existed to revoke Ragozin's permanent residence permit in Latvia. The State Security Service (VDD) was also informed of this request.

In his justification, Jurēvics argued that Ragozin's public statements in international media and on social networks consistently echo Russia's official foreign policy positions and propaganda messaging, while helping to spread the aggressor state's narrative about the war in Ukraine. The lawmaker said such conduct contains elements of information warfare and hybrid threats.

The process toward a possible listing is currently only at an early stage, and a final decision on Ragozin's future status in Latvia will rest with the relevant state authorities.