Citizenship for Indian scientist sparks dispute and police complaint in Latvia
The decision to grant Latvian citizenship to Indian scientist Divya Kanan Vishvanat has prompted public debate. A complaint alleging possible fraud has been filed with the State Police, while the National Alliance demands a more transparent process.
A controversy has erupted in Latvia over the granting of citizenship to Indian scientist Divja Kanana Višvanata. The State Police have received a complaint alleging possible fraud, while the National Alliance (NA) party wants the procedure for granting citizenship for special merits reviewed and greater openness in the work of the Saeima committee involved, according to 360TV Ziņas.
Police complaint
The author of the complaint believes the scientist may have knowingly and deceitfully provided false information to a state institution. The author says her scientific publications cannot be found anywhere and asks which Indian university awarded her education. In the author's view, lawmakers were not given the full picture and those responsible should be held accountable. The complaint also questions how thorough the checks by the Academy of Sciences and the responsible Saeima committee were.
The committee's explanation
Gunārs Kūtris of the 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 was not granted for special merits in this case. He argues that what matters more than educational records is the contribution a person has made in Latvia, one that leads institutions to regard them as needed by the state. Kūtris added that an investigation can proceed if there are grounds. The committee submitted the bill and asked for it to be considered as urgent.
National Alliance position
NA was the only political force that did not back granting citizenship. The party has said it will turn to law enforcement and call for publication of what was said in the committee's closed session. Edvīns Šņore (NA), parliamentary secretary at the Interior Ministry, said the person had every opportunity to obtain citizenship through naturalisation and compared the situation to the sale of "golden visas", which he said European Union countries have abandoned.
President and committee response
The President has noted that he cannot demand 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. The committee has also received a deputy's request to check certain facts about the scientist. Kūtris is still seeking a suitable time but says the matter will be placed on the agenda.
