Latvia to keep enhanced border measures until 2027 amid irregular migration via Belarus
July 1, Pozirk. Latvia’s government extended the enhanced security measures along the state border with Belarus until December 31, the Latvian State Border Guard reports.
The measures will continue to apply in the Ludza, Krāslava and Augšdaugava municipalities, the city of Daugavpils and Kaunata district of Rēzekne municipality, it noted, citing “disproportionately large number of irregular border crossings” at the shared border with Belarus as the reason.
“The security situation on the Latvian-Belarusian border remains serious,” said Latvian Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava, describing irregular crossings as the “hybrid pressure exerted by aggressor states against the external border of Latvia and the European Union continues.”
The enhanced border protections will be maintained for as long as the security situation requires, without any compromises at the expense of national security, the official stressed.
Latvia thwarted more than 47,000 irregular crossings by undocumented third-country foreigners via Belarus between August 10, 2021 and June 27, 2026, according to the border authorities’ data. Latvia has been the primary target of irregular migration via Belarus in 2026, with 6,718 attempts reported in the first half of the year.
Latvia has repeatedly extended enhanced security in the border area with Belarus, citing irregular migration.
The flow of people desperate to cross into the EU surged in spring 2021 after Alaksandar Łukašenka, angered by EU sanctions, had indicated that Minsk would not prevent asylum seekers from Africa and Asia from using Belarus as a route to the EU.
Latvia, Lithuania and Poland call the migration crisis a “hybrid attack” orchestrated by Minsk and Moscow.
Latvia arrests undocumented foreigners who crossed from Belarus, drivers
- SocietyPoland arrests Belarusian in $813,000 cigarette smuggling caseThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyLabor productivity rises 1.1 percent, real pay 7.5 percent in H1The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics, SecurityBelarus launches 17-day air defense drillThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsŁukašenka announces upcoming meeting with PutinThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja plays up value of independence in anniversary messageThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsZelensky to Cichanoŭskaja: Europe cannot afford to lose any nation seeking real independenceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsNew “extremist” designations, politically motivated arrest reported in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBiełstat: pre-tax monthly pay up 2.2 percent in JulyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka orders coins to commemorate All-Belarusian People’s AssemblyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyCentral bank cuts estimated values of standard riskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus to raise labor pensions on September 1The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityUkraine, Russia release 10 return prisoners each in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- SecurityBelarus testing artillery, command-chain readiness using lessons from Ukraine, IranThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyŁukašenka notes plunge in trade with Russia's Arkhangelsk provinceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, SocietyLithuania intercepts two drones carrying Belarusian cigarettesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy



