Entry Ban Announced for Ksenia Sobchak and Konstantin Bogomolov
Latvia’s Foreign Minister, Baiba Braže, has officially placed Russian journalist and TV presenter Ksenia Sobchak and her husband, theater director Konstantin Bogomolov, on the country’s blacklist of unwanted individuals, barring them from entering Latvia indefinitely. This measure is based on Article 104, Part 3 of Latvia’s Immigration Law.
Background Information
Ksenia Sobchak is a prominent Russian media figure and former politician who ran for president in 2018, securing less than 2% of the vote. She is the daughter of Anatoly Sobchak, the former mayor of Saint Petersburg and a political mentor to Vladimir Putin. Konstantin Bogomolov, her spouse since 2019, is a respected Russian theater and film director and currently heads the 'Na Maloy Bronnoy' theater.
In October 2022, Sobchak left Russia following a police search of her residence tied to an extortion case involving Kirill Sukhanov, the commercial director of the media company 'Ostorozhno Media.' Sukhanov was accused of extorting money from Sergei Chemezov, head of the Russian state corporation Rostec. After departing Russia, Sobchak traveled through Belarus and arrived in Lithuania using an Israeli passport. Despite reports from Russian news agencies TASS and RIA Novosti on November 7, 2022, about Sobchak and Bogomolov’s return to Russia, Latvia’s decision reflects ongoing concerns.
"Under Article 104, Part 3 of the Immigration Law, I have added Russian citizens Ksenia Sobchak and Konstantin Bogomolov to Latvia’s list of undesirable persons, prohibiting their entry indefinitely."
- Baiba Braže
It is noteworthy that on September 18 of this year, Foreign Minister Braže also included Russian hockey star Alexander Ovechkin and oligarch Umar Kremlyov on the list of banned individuals.
This ban aligns with Latvia’s broader policy aimed at protecting national security and public order by restricting access to those seen as potential threats. The inclusion of Sobchak and Bogomolov signals Latvia’s continued firm stance in response to actions by Russian citizens deemed risky by Latvian authorities. Such decisions carry implications for Latvia-Russia relations amid heightened regional tensions and emphasize Latvia’s commitment to stringent immigration controls.