Latvia Imposes Indefinite Entry Ban on Russian Propagandist Ksenia Sobchak and Her Husband

Latvia has imposed an indefinite entry ban on Russian propagandist and television personality Ksenia Sobchak and her husband, Russian theatre director Konstantin Bogomolov, adding both to the country’s list of undesirable persons.

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže announced the decision on October 31 in a post on social media platform X.

“Under Article 104, Paragraph 3 of the Immigration Law, I have included Russian citizens Ksenia Sobchak and Konstantin Bogomolov on Latvia’s list of undesirable persons and banned them from entering Latvia for an indefinite period,” Braže said.

The foreign minister did not specify the reasons behind the decision.

Sobchak, a prominent Russian television presenter, journalist and media personality, has faced criticism over her political connections and allegations that her media activities amplify narratives aligned with Kremlin propaganda.

She is also known for her longstanding ties to Russia’s political establishment. Her father, Anatoly Sobchak, the former mayor of St. Petersburg, was an early political mentor to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In 2018, Sobchak ran in Russia’s presidential election, a campaign that drew criticism from opposition figures, including the late Alexei Navalny, who accused her of participating in a Kremlin-backed effort to undermine genuine political opposition.

Her husband, Konstantin Bogomolov, is a Russian theatre and film director who has held prominent positions in Moscow’s cultural establishment.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Latvia has maintained a firm stance against Moscow, introducing restrictions targeting Russian officials, public figures and cultural personalities associated with the Kremlin.

The Baltic state has also imposed indefinite entry bans on other prominent Russian figures, including ice hockey star Alexander Ovechkin and International Boxing Association President Umar Kremlev.

The latest decision adds Sobchak and Bogomolov to the growing list of Russian nationals barred from entering Latvia amid continued tensions between Moscow and European countries over the war in Ukraine.