Andrei Lankov, a Russian historian and expert on North Korea, was detained by law enforcement in Riga, Latvia, during a lecture on Tuesday evening. According to a report from the Associated Press, Lankov stated in a text message that the Latvian police did not provide any reasons for his detention. After his arrest, he was handed over to immigration authorities and subsequently escorted to the Estonian border, where he was expelled from the country.

Lankov expressed frustration over the lack of transparency surrounding his detainment, summarizing the experience as a straightforward expulsion from Latvia. A dual citizen of Russia and Australia, Lankov is a prominent scholar, with a current position as a professor at Korea University in Seoul. His detention comes amidst a backdrop of increasing scrutiny on public figures and foreign nationals in Latvia, particularly those with ties to Russia, especially in the context of recent geopolitical tensions.

On the following day, Lankov had a lecture scheduled in Tallinn, Estonia, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). His situation highlights the complexities and sensitivities involved in academic freedom, national security, and the political climate in the Baltic regions, where historical and contemporary issues surrounding Russian influence remain fiercely contested. Lankov's experience raises questions about the treatment of foreign intellectuals in the region, particularly in light of recentlegal actions taken against individuals deemed undesirable by the authorities in Latvia and other countries around the Baltic Sea.