Latvia Bans Entry to Russian Designer Lebedev, Comedian Ponomarev

Latvia imposed an indefinite entry ban for pro-Kremlin designer Artemiy Lebedev and comedian Valery Ponomarenko, a month before he was due to perform in the country, Latvia’s Foreign Ministry announced Friday.
Latvian authorities did not cite the specific reasons for blacklisting Lebedev and Ponomarenko, noting only that the former is “known in certain circles” and the latter was scheduled to perform in the cities of Rezekne and Dugavpils.
Lebedev, who was blacklisted by Ukraine for supporting Russia’s full-scale invasion, called Latvian authorities “pathetic, petty and insignificant” in response to his travel ban.
Latvia previously blacklisted dozens of pro-war Russian public figures, including singer Shaman and “propagandist” comedian Maria Markova.
Riga restricted the flow of Russian citizens into the country after Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022. The Baltic country extended those restrictions until March 2025.
Russia has maintained tense relations with the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia since the full-scale invasion. The three countries are among NATO’s most vocal supporters of Kyiv.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has designated The Moscow Times as an “undesirable” organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a “foreign agent.”
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work “discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership.” We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It’s quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you’re defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.