Latvian lawmakers seek tighter rules for granting citizenship

Latvia’s parliamentary Citizenship Committee will examine the case of Indian scientist Divya Kanana Vishwanath and proposals to revise how citizenship is granted for special merit, LSM reported. Politicians from different parties say the case has highlighted the need for change, though they disagree on what should be changed.

Questions arose after Vishwanath received Latvian citizenship by law, with doubts raised about her education and scientific publications. The National Alliance, whose members mostly abstained, did not vote or voted against granting her citizenship, is calling for the process to be reviewed and committee meetings to be made public.

Committee meetings are currently closed because members consider personal documents and discuss private matters. National Alliance MP Artūrs Butāns said greater public scrutiny before a vote could have changed how some lawmakers voted. He argued that people seeking citizenship through a public parliamentary process should not expect the same privacy as those applying through naturalisation.

Under the current procedure, a private individual can ask parliament to grant citizenship by decision or law, rather than through naturalisation. MPs say they rely on assessments from state institutions, the applicant’s submission and a letter of recommendation.

Butāns said the president’s institution could potentially put forward a citizenship proposal, or the Cabinet of Ministers could make a recommendation without taking the decision itself.