On the 6th of October, Latvia decided to expel Russian journalist Leonid Ragozin—who had lived in the country for over a decade—due to his pro-Kremlin comments, Politico reports.
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže stated that, based on information received from relevant authorities and following consultations with the Prime Minister and the Interior Minister, a decision was made to add another Russian citizen to the list of persona non grata.
A high-ranking European official familiar with the decision confirmed that the individual in question is Russian journalist Leonid Ragozin. He has previously worked for the BBC and produced material for Bloomberg and Politico.
In recent days, speaking on the Grayzone podcast hosted by Aaron Maté, Ragozin said that Russia feels a need to respond with brutal force to what it views as Western provocations. Grayzone is a US media outlet skeptical of Western support for Ukraine.
He stated that Moscow views itself as the underdogs, subject to constant Western pressure.
The West is attempting to encroach upon Russia’s sphere of influence and strategic interests, compelling it to respond to these hostile hybrid activities that are altering the landscape of the former Soviet bloc. Ragozin’s remarks have sparked outrage in Latvia.
As Russian forces continue hostilities in Ukraine and Kremlin aggression poses a threat to Eastern Europe, the Baltic states are watching Moscow with unease. Latvian Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava wrote on X that Ragozin serves Russian interests and that the situation of him continuing to live freely in Latvia is unacceptable. The minister emphasized that the list of personae non gratae is intended for precisely such situations, and the process has been initiated; he expects a swift outcome.
The Baltic states have repeatedly called on Europe to adopt a firmer stance against Russia, and in September, Latvia was the only country to oppose the lifting of EU sanctions against Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov.
Ragozin has not responded to a request for comment.