Disappointed but not surprised to hear about
#Latvia's repressive move against Russian emigre journalist
@leonidragozin who, by the way, spends most of his time writing travel journals for
@lonelyplanet. As others have said, including my chum
@bneeditor he is the most mild-mannered person and absolutely not in the sway of the Russian state.
His view reflects that of many young Russian liberals who dislike Putin's policies but nonetheless find the Russophobia in Europe hysterical and grotesque. In that regard he is a digital nomad, stateless, soon, in more ways than one.
Barring him from Latvia is simply childish and performative on the part of the authorities, but will cause short-medium term distress and disruption to Leonid and his partner, who will need to seek a new place to live.
It reflects an ongoing and insidious clampdown on free speech in Europe. it isn't just because Leonid bears the stain of being a hated Russian, but that he says things that people in Riga, Brussels, London and elsewhere don't want to hear.
Europe is now a reincarnated Frankenstein USSR.