Latvian Ministry of the Interior plans to suggest to the government to extent the state of emergency on the border with Belarus until 10 November, according to amendments prepared by the ministry.
In response to the increased pressure from illegal immigration, Latvia’s government decided to declare a state of emergency in Ludza, Krāslava, Augšdaugava, as well as Daugavpils. The government originally announced the state of emergency in August 2021. So far it has been extended multiple times since then. The last time it was extended until 10 August 2022.
Although the number of persons trying to illegally cross Latvian-Belarusian border has gone down, border guards still uncover illegal border-crossing attempts. In May border guards deterred 20 persons from crossing the state border, 96 were deterred in June and a total of five in July so far.
The ministry notes that since August 2021 the State Border Guard have deterred 6 777 people from illegally crossing the state border.
Russia’s war in Ukraine, which is supported by Belarus, is an important contributing factor. This is why authorities in Latvia should take the drop in illegal border-crossers on Latvian-Belarusian border with caution.
Information is received from Lithuania and Poland about continued attempts to cross the border from the side of Belarus. This is why monitoring on the Latvian-Belarusian border will remain on high alert.
Another important factor to consider is that Poland has finished construction of a fence on the border shared with Belarus. Construction on the Lithuanian-Belarusian border continues. Lithuania has extended its own state of emergency on the border shared with Belarus until 15 September.
Installation of a permanent fence on the Latvian-Belarusian border is planned to commence soon.
This means Belarus may use the situation and increase the number of illegal-border crossers.
It is also important to establish inter-governmental coordinated response to illegal border-crossing attempts to ensure equal protection of the border shared by countries of the region with Belarus.
Latvian ministry’s proposed amendment also provide flexible bonuses for State Border Guards and police officers for work in high risk and increased workload conditions. Amendments list bonus pay up to 100% of officials’ or employees’ hourly rate.