The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Russian historian Andrei Lankov has been added to the list of undesirable persons, leading to his detention and expulsion from the country during a scheduled lecture.
The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that Russian historian Andrei Lankov has been included in Latvia's list of undesirable persons, following a decision based on national security agency information. The ministry announced that Lankov is now classified as a 'persona non grata,' and this ban on his entry into Latvia is indefinite. The decision reflects the Ministry's ongoing efforts to maintain national security in light of geopolitical tensions with Russia.
On February 24, while preparing to hold a lecture in Riga titled 'North Korea: What the elites want and fear,' Lankov was detained at the venue. The organizers of the lecture indicated that his detention was directly linked to his inclusion in Latvia's blacklist. This action has raised discussions regarding the implications of academic freedom and the balancing act that governments must navigate when dealing with figures perceived as security risks.
Latvia's Foreign Ministry emphasized that the list of undesirable persons is managed by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, which reviews cases to ensure the safety of the public. This incident underlines the delicate relationship between freedom of expression and national security, particularly in a politically charged environment. As tensions regarding Russia's influence grow, similar actions may be expected from other nations in the region, reflecting a broader trend in international diplomacy and security enforcement.
