Japanese journalist accused of spying on Russian military detained by security service

Russian journalist Leonid Ragozin spent a dozen years establishing his life in Latvia. However, he now fears returning to his former home. On October 6, Latvia's Foreign Ministry announced the addition of an unnamed Russian citizen to its list of personae non gratae. According to Delfi and Politico, Ragozin is the individual in question.

He moved to Latvia following the annexation of Crimea, obtained permanent residency, and now writes for Western media outlets. If approved, he would become the first independent journalist opposing the war to be listed, joining a roster of Russian propagandists and supporters of Russia's aggression. Ragozin's conflict with Latvian officials began in 2019 when he co-wrote an article about connections between Latvia's National Alliance party and Ukrainian far-right groups and Russian neo-Nazis.

In 2022, Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks labeled him a "potential Russian agent of influence" and accused him of spreading Russian propaganda. In September 2026, Latvian Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava urged the Foreign Minister to declare Ragozin an undesirable person, alleging that he justified Russian aggression and discredited Ukraine.

The decision to add Ragozin to the list has sparked controversy, with Russian journalists in exile defending him. However, Ragozin himself is uncertain whether he has been officially added to the list, as authorities have not contacted him. Despite being abroad at the time of the decision, Ragozin faces a significant risk of deportation back to Russia, where he may face imprisonment.