The power of the Russian language: Russian comedian and designer banned from entering Latvia

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Brazhe has declared Russian designer Artemy Lebedev and humorist Valery Ponomarenko persona non grata. She wrote about this on her page on the social network X.

"I have decided to include Russian citizens Artemy Lebedev and Valery Ponomarenko in the list of undesirable persons for the Republic of Latvia (persona non grata) and ban them from entering Latvia for an indefinite period," Brazhe said in a statement.

Lebedev has already responded to the actions of the Latvian Foreign Ministry by writing about it in his telegram channel.

"Zaya, today is an interesting day — I was banned from entering Latvia! Here it is — the power of the Russian language: maybe up to To bring Kiev. I say hello to the pathetic, petty, insignificant Latvian officials," Lebedev wrote.

As reported by EADaily, in March 2022 Latvia banned the entry of 25 Russian cultural figures. The list includes Nikita Mikhalkov, Tina Kandelaki, Vladimir Mashkov, Stas Mikhailov and other Russian stars.

In May of the same year, Latvia banned Philip Kirkorov, Vladimir Vinokur, Yevgeny Petrosyan and Irina Viner-Usmanova from entering, declaring them persona non grata.

In July of this year, a Russian singer of Georgian origin Irakli Pirtskhalava joined the banned list. The artist wondered what the Latvian authorities were afraid of.