Russian-Australian Professor Andrei Lankov Detained and Expelled from Latvia

Prominent Scholar Detained in Riga

Andrei Lankov, a distinguished Russian-Australian professor specializing in Korean studies, was detained by Latvian police in Riga on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, during a lecture he was scheduled to deliver. The professor, who teaches at Kookmin University in Seoul, was subsequently expelled from the country.

Reports indicate that police officers arrived at the lecture venue in Riga, where Lankov was preparing to speak on 'North Korea: What the Leaders Want and Fear,' and took him into custody. He was then transferred to the immigration office.

Declared 'Persona Non Grata'

It emerged that the Latvian Foreign Ministry had declared Professor Lankov 'persona non grata' on February 20, 2026, just days before his detention. However, neither Lankov nor his legal representatives were provided with an official explanation for this designation.

Lankov, who holds dual Russian and Australian citizenship, speculated on his Telegram channel that his expulsion might be linked to his 'excessively objective' views on North Korea. He stated that authorities might dislike his approach of presenting reality 'without turning it into politically useful satire.'

Expulsion and Aftermath

Following his detention, Professor Lankov was processed by immigration authorities and then escorted to the border with Estonia, where he safely arrived. He confirmed his arrival in Estonia via his Telegram channel.

The lecture organizers, Curiosophy.events, have announced their intention to challenge the decision. They plan to file a lawsuit with human rights organizations and European institutions to 'protect the rights of scholars and audiences and to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.' Despite this, Lankov has indicated that he does not intend to appeal the Latvian authorities' decision, considering it 'meaningless.'

Professor Lankov, born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) in 1963, has a long history of studying North Korea, including time as an exchange student in Pyongyang in the 1980s. He is known for his 'cool, realist view' of the country. He has also been critical of Russia's war in Ukraine and was reportedly fined in Moscow in April 2025 for involvement with an organization deemed 'undesirable' in Russia.