Latvian Academy of Sciences Secretary denies ties to Cayman Islands firm

Baiba Rivža, the Secretary General of the Latvian Academy of Sciences (LZA), has denied holding any official position or contractual relationship with Zoar Limited, a pharmaceutical company registered in the Cayman Islands. The company is founded and directed by Kanans Višvanats.

Previously, the names of both Rivža and LZA President Ivars Kalviņš appeared on the company’s website in a consultative advisory board list, though this information has since been removed. Višvanats clarified that the names were included as a gesture of respect for their presence at an artificial intelligence center opening in Riga on June 12, rather than to indicate official roles. The company stated that the website layout may have created a “misleading impression” and confirmed that neither official has received compensation or held contractual ties with the firm.

The State Revenue Service (VID) has launched an investigation into the official declarations of both Rivža and Kalviņš. The probe reportedly follows concerns that the roles within Zoar Limited were not disclosed in their mandatory state official declarations.