Writer and Publicist Rimants Ziedonis, Son of Poet Imants Ziedonis, Passes Away
Rimants Ziedonis Passes Away Suddenly in Latvia
Writer, poet, and journalist Rimants Ziedonis has died. Born in Jēkabpils on June 17, 1962, to poet Imanta Ziedonis and teacher Ritma Safonova, he built a multifaceted career spanning literature, cultural journalism, and presidential administration. Evelīna Ziedone announced the news on Facebook, stating that information regarding the time and place of the funeral services will follow.
Literary Beginnings and the Shift to Documentary Prose
Rimants Ziedonis began his literary path in 1986 with the publication of his poetry collection Atvēzējies glāstam
(Swung for a Caress). Over time, however, he moved away from verse to focus purposefully on documentary prose and the essay genre. Rather than constructing fictional plots, his later work documented real life and the personal destinies of people across Latvia. His published works include the short-prose collections Dzīves pieredze un ziepju burbuļi
(Life Experience and Soap Bubbles, 1992) and Pastaiga
(A Walk, 2016). His documentary books feature titles such as Nacionālais dēkainis – krokodilu mednieks
(The National Adventurer – Crocodile Hunter), Paradoksālā Latvija
(Paradoxical Latvia), Austrumu robeža
(The Eastern Border), Mežu zemē Latvijā
(In the Forest Land of Latvia), and Jūras zemē Latvijā
(In the Sea Land of Latvia).
Collaboration with Imanta Ziedonis on Leišmalīte
Among his notable literary achievements is the 2013 documentary prose book Leišmalīte
, created in collaboration with his father, Imanta Ziedonis. For this work, he received the Egons Līvs memorial prize Krasta ļaudis
(People of the Coast) in 2013. In a 2022 interview with the magazine Ievas Stāsti, Rimants Ziedonis spoke openly about his family’s character, noting that the Ziedonis family tradition did not encourage emotional exposure or complaining. His professional output extended beyond books into public service and speechwriting, where he drafted remarks for Latvia’s highest officials, including the Prime Minister, the President, and the Speaker of the Saeima.
Rimants Ziedonis Worked in Journalism and Public Administration
Throughout his career in journalism and public administration, Rimants Ziedonis worked across several prominent newsrooms and institutions. He served on the staff of the magazine Karogs, worked as the cultural department editor for the newspaper Neatkarīgā Rīta Avīze, edited the publication Literatūra. Māksla. Mēs, and held the position of editor-in-chief at the newspaper Rīgas Balss. Later, he managed the publication National Geographic Latvia. In 1999, he served as the press secretary to then-State President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga. He joined the Latvian Writers’ Union in 1991. Beyond media and literature, he remained active in public life as a member of the National Alliance (Nacionālā apvienība) party and a candidate for the 15th Saeima from the Vidzeme electoral district, prompting expressions of condolence from the party to his family, colleagues, and peers.
Mūžībā aizgājis rakstnieks, dzejnieks, žurnālists un @VL_TBLNNK biedrs Rimants Ziedonis. Visdziļākā līdzjūtība tuviniekiem, draugiem, kolēģiem, domubiedriem un visiem, kas sēro. https://t.co/Ckryzp9AqX
In his final year, Ziedonis pursued an unexpected professional chapter. In an interview with the magazine Privātā Dzīve published in February 2026, he shared that he had spent approximately the past year working as a taxi driver. He expressed genuine enjoyment in the occupation, explaining that it offered him a unique vantage point to meet diverse people and observe society firsthand. I like driving a car, I’ve traveled around Latvia a lot before and written four or five books about how I travel and what people I meet,
he told the magazine. Others sit in a cafe and observe society, while I observe people while driving.
Family Will Announce Memorial and Funeral Details
As tributes and condolences from literary circles, political allies, and readers continue to circulate across Latvia, public details regarding the exact time and location of the memorial and funeral services remain unannounced. Family members have indicated that further information will be released publicly once arrangements are finalized.
