Latvian Interior Minister Janis Dombrava failed to declare Russian journalist Leonid Ragozin persona non grata after Foreign Minister Baiba Braze rejected his request.
Dombrava called for Ragozin, who currently lives in the Latvian capital of Riga, to be placed on the persona non grata list and banned from entering the Baltic country following public comments supporting Moscow.
Writing on the social media platform X, Dombrava criticized the journalist's public activities and accused him of undermining Western policies regarding Russia.
Dombrava stated that Ragozin had accused Western nations of aggressive actions against Russia in his public commentary. The minister added that Ragozin had declared international sanctions against Moscow to be ineffective, claiming that the restrictions serve to provoke Russia rather than deter it.
The interior minister further asserted that the journalist had discredited Ukraine, its political leadership, and its armed forces in his statements.
Cabinet dispute over residency authority
The effort to punish the journalist collapsed when Foreign Minister Baiba Braze publicly refused to carry out Dombrava's demand, pointing out that authority over foreign residents rests with his own department.
Braze responded to her cabinet colleague by noting that the Ministry of Internal Affairs had issued the Russian citizen his residence permit in Latvia. Because of that, she stated that taking action against Ragozin falls directly within the competence of the interior minister, advising Dombrava not to evade his responsibilities.
In diplomatic practice, declaring an individual persona non grata typically revokes their legal status and prohibits entry into a sovereign state. Latvia, a member of the European Union and NATO, has maintained strict oversight of foreign nationals residing within its borders since geopolitical tensions heightened in Eastern Europe.
Broader scrutiny of Russian citizens
The ministry clash comes amid broader public discussions surrounding Latvian government regulations targeting Russian goods and citizens.
Earlier, prominent blogger and designer Artemy Lebedev mocked Latvia over legislative actions taken in the country. Lebedev expressed amusement at a decision by the Saeima, the parliament of Latvia, to ban the import of clothing, footwear, and sports goods from Russia.
Under Latvian law, the Ministry of Internal Affairs remains responsible for domestic security, border enforcement, and managing residency permits, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs oversees official diplomatic sanctions and international relations.
