Belarus bans imports of Latvian-made tights, other goods

November 3, Pozirk. The Council of Ministers updated its Directive No 700 listing goods banned for import and sale in Belarus, its Telegram channel reported.

The ban now covers Latvian coffee, jams, fruit jelly, fruit, nuts, juices, water, beer, strong alcoholic beverages, tights and socks as well as ceramic goods.

Officials linked the ban to Riga’s decision to close one of the two border crossings at the Latvian-Belarusian border. It will come into force after the official publication.

Latvia closed the Silene checkpoint (Urbany in Belarus) on September 19, citing a sharp rise in illegal crossing attempts. Currently, Latvia operates only one checkpoint at its shared border with Belarus in Pāternieki (Hryharoŭščyna).

Belarusian foreign ministry later said that Belarus will respond with economic measures to the “unmotivated blockade of cargo and passenger flows.”