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
- Politics, SecurityLatvia records irregular crossings via Belarus for 111 consecutive daysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsKGB brands Belarusian marketplace, Ukrainian elite unit as “extremist” groupsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- Politics, SportFIBA upholds suspension of Belarus’ basketball teams – reportThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsŁukašenka: 5,000 Uzbek workers to arrive in Viciebsk regionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja grateful to Macron and France for supporting free BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityNine countries join EU sanctions on Belarus’ IzovacThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics
- Economy
- EconomyCentral bank’s net assets decrease in MayThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- EconomyBelarusian companies’ debts rise by nearly 15 percent in a yearThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyCash in circulation rises by 2.9 percent in JuneThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Society
- PoliticsBelarusian ruler’s office remains antagonistic toward French leaders despite high-level contactsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsLaw enforcers harass exiled writer Filipienka over his studies at EHUThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyCatholic priest jailed for 15 daysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsRights groups identify seven new political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+


