Academy removes residence permit services advertisement

The Latvian Academy of Sciences has removed a lobby notice advertising document preparation for permanent and temporary residence permits on its 13th floor, LSM reported.

LSM’s Panorama programme spotted the yellow poster on Monday. By Wednesday evening, it had been taken down from the academy’s information board.

The removal comes amid scrutiny of matters connected to Indian scientist Divya Kanan Vishwanath and her husband, Kanan Vishwanath, a Latvian citizen since 2023. After media questions about the authenticity of Divya Vishwanath’s scientific publications, some information was removed from her website. Later, following interest from the State Revenue Service and the start of an inspection, a Cayman Islands-registered company, Zoar Limited, removed information from its website stating that Academy President Ivars Kalvins and General Secretary Baiba Rivza served on its advisory board. Rivza has denied any connection with the company, which was founded by Kanan Vishwanath and has denied employing academy officials.

LSM is also awaiting responses to questions about reported sales of temporary residence permits and alleged links to Ģina Linde, director of the Latvian Academy of Sciences Institute of Economics. No one was at the institute when LSM sought comment.

On October 15, parliament approved granting Latvian citizenship to Divya Vishwanath in an expedited procedure, following a recommendation from the Academy of Sciences. After questions about the decision emerged, parliament on October 22 passed a law declaring the citizenship-granting law invalid from the moment it was adopted.