Publicist files police complaint over Latvian citizenship granted to Indian scientist

Publicist Lato Lapsa has submitted a complaint to the State Police asking for criminal proceedings over suspected fraud. The case concerns Latvian citizenship granted to Indian scientist Divja Kanana Vishvanata, which has sparked a public debate about whether the Saeima's decision was justified. The complaint was reported by 360TV News.

The allegations

Vishvanata may have knowingly given false information to a state institution. According to the claims circulating, her scientific publications cannot be found anywhere, and it is unclear which Indian university awarded her education.

Lapsa argues that deliberately false information was supplied in order to obtain citizenship for special merits, and that the Saeima deputies, around 67 of them in his words, were deceived. He also questions how thoroughly the Academy of Sciences and the responsible Saeima committee examined the case.

The committee chair's response

Gunārs Kūtris (Union of Greens and Farmers, ZZS), who chairs the Saeima's Citizenship, Migration and Social Cohesion Committee, says the committee does not verify such information because citizenship in this instance was not granted for special merits. In his view, what matters more than education is whether the person has made a contribution to Latvia that leads institutions to see them as needed by the state. The committee submitted the bill and asked for it to be considered urgently. Kūtris says that if there are grounds, an investigation should go ahead.

The committee has also received a submission from a deputy asking it to check certain facts about the scientist. Kūtris is still looking for a suitable time but says the matter will be placed on the agenda.

Political reaction

The National Alliance was the only political force that did not back granting citizenship. The party wants the procedure for citizenship for special merits reviewed, calls for more openness in the committee's work and will turn to law enforcement bodies. Edvīns Šņore (National Alliance), parliamentary secretary at the Interior Ministry, said the person had the option of obtaining citizenship through naturalisation.

The President has said he cannot request a second review of a law if the Saeima has declared it urgent by a majority of at least two thirds. In that case the law must be promulgated within three days.