US EditionProminent Russian scholar of North Korea says he was expelled from Latvia following detention
Andrey Lankov was placed on a Latvian blacklist and handed over to immigration services during a lecture, with the reasons for detention remaining unclear, Russian media reported.
- On Wednesday, Lankov of Kookmin University was detained by Latvian police during a lecture in Riga, Russian outlets reported Wednesday.
- A longtime Korea scholar, Lankov has taught at Kookmin University, Seoul since 2004 and worked in South Korea and Australia, having lived in North Korea as an exchange student in the 1980s.
- Reports said he was handed over to immigration services after Latvian authorities placed him on a 'blacklist,' and at about 11 p.m. Moscow time Lankov told RBK he was still held with lawyers working on his case.
- Organizers quoted by RBC said Lankov was safe, the Australian consul had been notified, and Kookmin University said it was trying to assess the situation.
- In context, Lankov was fined in Moscow in April 2025 for participating in activities of an undesirable organization, with reports noting his criticism of Russia's war in Ukraine and Moscow's use of North Korean troops.
23 Articles
23 Articles
Russian North Korea Specialist Removed From Latvia After Persona Non Grata Declaration
Andrei Lankov, a well-known Russian scholar of North Korea, reported on February 25 that he was detained during a lecture in Latvia, declared persona non grata, and expelled from the country. Lankov himself speculated that his expulsion was due to his “excessively objective” views on North Korea, stating that he occasionally makes positive remarks about the country and does not adopt a hysterical tone when criticizing it. We bring you stories f…
(Moscow/Seoul=Yonhap News) Correspondent Choi In-young, Reporters Kwak Min-seo and Yang Su-yeon = Andrei Lankov, a Russian professor at Kookmin University who was detained and deported in Latvia, said on the 25th...
Russian Scholar of North Korea Says He Was Detained and Expelled From Latvia
Andrei Lankov, a prominent Russian scholar on North Korea, said Wednesday that he was detained during a lecture in Latvia and expelled from the country after being declared persona non grata.
A historian and an expert on North Korea, Andrei Lankov, were expelled from Latvia last night.
Associated Press News
Prominent Russian scholar of North Korea detained during lecture in Latvia, Russian media says
Andrei Lankov, a prominent Russian scholar on North Korea who teaches at a Seoul university, was detained in Latvia while delivering a lecture, Russian media reported.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
