The border security regime is intended to be in place from March 13 to September 12 this year.

In September last year, the Latvian government decided to close one of its two border crossing points with Belarus, accusing Minsk of using illegal migrants as a “hybrid threat” to undermine the Baltic state’s security. But during the winter, the flow of migrants dwindled, so the Latvian government did not extend the reinforced border surveillance mode beyond February 10, 2024.

Now, as illegal crossings are once again on the rise, the State Border Guard Service has called for the reintroduction of reinforced border surveillance.

“The state has to ensure its security in all circumstances, and the precautionary principle should apply to the protection of national security,” the MoI said.

The border security regime is planned to be restored in Ludza, Krāslava, Augšdaugava municipalities, Daugavpils City, and Rēzekne municipality Kaunata parish.

The order will oblige the country’s Armed Forces and the State Police to provide all the necessary support to the State Border Guard in securing the border to inhibit illegal crossing.

The order also grants the authorities certain rights, such as entering properties without the owner’s consent in order to avert a possible threat.

Guntis Pujāts, Head of the State Border Guard Service, has reported an increase in the number of illegal migrant offenses in recent days.

The latest statistics from the Border Guard show that a total of 172 people have been barred from crossing the border illegally this year.

Belarus - an ally of Russia

Belarus is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. It allowed Russian armed forces to use its territory as a staging post to invade Ukraine, Belarus’ southern neighbor, in early 2022. In May 2023, Russia deployed tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus. Belarus’ neighbors have also accused the country of generating an artificial migrant crisis in the region.

In 2021, Latvia, Poland, and Lithuania faced an immigration crisis when thousands of people, mostly from the Middle East and Africa, began crossing from Belarus.