{"id":211522,"date":"2026-11-12T13:28:35","date_gmt":"2026-11-12T10:28:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/211522\/"},"modified":"2026-11-12T13:28:37","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T10:28:37","slug":"latvia-to-extend-enhanced-protections-at-belarus-border","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/211522\/","title":{"rendered":"Latvia to extend enhanced protections at Belarus border"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

November 12, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>The Latvian interior ministry proposed extending enhanced security measures along the border with Belarus until June 30, 2027, citing continued irregular migration, hybrid threats and deliberate damage to border infrastructure, BNN<\/em> reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pressure from irregular migration along the Latvian-Belarusian border remains high, while irregular migrants\u2019 tactics continue to evolve, with new methods used to breach the state border, the ministry noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current measures are in force until December 31, covering the Ludza, Kr\u0101slava and Aug\u0161daugava municipalities, the city of Daugavpils and Kaunata district of R\u0113zekne municipality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the construction of border security infrastructure, Latvian authorities continue to report deliberate damage to surveillance cameras and electrical distribution cabinets, while third-country foreigners who cross via Belarus irregularly use tunnels and behave aggressively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ministry warned that hybrid threats along the shared border with Belarus are likely to continue, stressing that irregular migration is being used as a tool to exert pressure on Latvia, the European Union and NATO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Latvia has been the primary target of irregular migration via Belarus this year, thwarting nearly 12,900 irregular crossings by undocumented third-country foreigners since January, according to Pozirk\u2019s<\/em> analysis of border authorities\u2019 data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Riga has repeatedly extended enhanced security in the border area with Belarus, citing irregular migration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On August 10, Latvia launched the operation Vilkatis to crack down on irregular migration routes. Initially scheduled to end on September 1, the operation was extended until December 31.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The flow of people desperate to cross into the EU surged in spring 2021 after Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Latvia, Lithuania and Poland call the migration crisis a \u201chybrid attack\u201d orchestrated by Minsk and Moscow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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