Because of the need to prevent the illegal crossing of the Latvian-Belarusian border, Latvia’s government supported on the 6th of February the proposal to keep Silene border checkpoint closed for good.
The state of emergency originally imposed on the Latvian-Belarusian border to quell the growing immigration pressure will not continue after the 11th of February. Nevertheless, Silene border checkpoint will not reopen, as previously reported by the Ministry of the Interior.
Due to growing pressure from illegal immigration, multiple administrative territories in Latvia bordering Belarus put their authorities on high alert. This status was later replaced by an official state of emergency.
Additionally, considering the pressure coming from illegal immigration coming from Belarus, Latvia’s government decided to shut down Silene border checkpoint in September 2023.
A document from the Ministry of the Interior sent to the government mentions that complex measures are in effect in order to prevent illegal crossing of the border,
but the number of such cases has gone down lately. This is the reason it was decided to discontinue the high alert regime.
At the same time, the ministry notes that the war against Ukraine started by Russia and openly supported by Belarus is an additional risk and a possible motivation for Belarus to continue its efforts to destabilise the situation on the state border with Latvia.
In this aspect it is important to keep in mind Finland’s experience in closing down the Finnish-Russian border.
The ministry notes that it is important to take security measures to make sure the country acts efficiently and prevents damages.
Considering the aforementioned, the Latvian government decided to not reopen Silene border checkpoint after the 11th of February.
At the same time, state secretary to the Ministry of the Interior Dimitrijs Trofimovs told LETA that if the situation changes rapidly, the State Border Guard will immediately go on high alert.
As previously reported, in autumn last year Latvian authorities prevented approximately 100 people from illegally crossing over from Belarus every day. Lately, however, the number of such attempts has gone down.
On the 10th of January there were five people who attempted to cross over to Russia. There are the only such attempts uncovered this year so far.
A total of 13 863 people were barred from illegally crossing the state border last year. 428 people were let in for humanitarian reasons. In 2022 Latvian authorities prevented 5 286 people’s attempts to cross the Latvian-Belarusian border. 217 people were let in for humanitarian reasons.
Because of the growing hybrid threats on the Latvian-Belarusian border, the State Border Guard decided to mobilise reserves to strengthen border control. The State Border Guard also requested support from National Armed Forces and State Police.
Also read: Away from Latvia and off to Brussels. Why are three active Latvian ministers running as candidates in EP elections?
Follow us on Facebook and X!