Scientists Demand Latvian Academy of Sciences President Kalviņš Resign Over Citizenship Row

Several members of the Latvian Academy of Sciences (LZA) are demanding that the academy's president, Ivars Kalviņš, resign. The reason is his role in backing Indian scientist Divya Kanana Vishvanatha's application for Latvian citizenship for exceptional merit, the TV3 news programme reported. The Saeima, Latvia's parliament, granted her citizenship on 15 October, but doubts about her qualifications and the justification for the decision surfaced publicly afterwards.

Doubts over education and publications

Kalviņš had recommended Vishvanatha for citizenship, stressing her work in research and artificial intelligence development. Scientists are unhappy about doubts over her education and the authenticity of her publications.

Physicist Vjačeslavs Kaščejevs, a full member of the LZA, believes the academy's leadership has lost scientists' trust and the right to represent Latvian science in public.

Andris Šutka, an LZA academician and materials scientist, said he has been unable to find any scientific publications by Vishvanatha. If she indeed has no scientific papers, he argued, there is no basis to recognise her as an outstanding scientist or to justify citizenship on that ground.

Chemist Kristaps Jaudzems, also a full LZA member, questions the credibility of the publications she has listed. He said information on her website changed over the weekend, with new publication data appearing. He pointed to cases where publications dated 2018 contain material from 2026, and doubts whether Vishvanatha took part in preparing the works at all. Jaudzems suggested that services which produce scientific results for payment may have been used, but conceded that explanations are needed first.

The scientists believe Kalviņš's actions may have harmed not only the LZA's reputation but also public trust in science, including science funding and innovation.

Responses from Kalviņš and Vishvanatha

Kalviņš told TV3 there is no need for him to resign. "I don't know what I should resign for. There is no justification for it. If it turns out that I have been deeply deceived or defrauded, then I will think about it," he said. He does not consider the information provided by Vishvanatha false and sees no reason for the uproar. He will have to explain his actions to academy members.

Vishvanatha earlier claimed that versions circulating on social media about her education and documents are unfounded and aimed at damaging her reputation. She said the documents submitted to the Saeima are genuine, as confirmed by apostilles from India's Ministry of External Affairs and checks by several state institutions.

The matter is also due to be reviewed by the Saeima's Committee on Citizenship, Migration and Social Cohesion.