On 23 August 2022, Minister of the Interior Kristaps Eklons in a Government meeting in Ludza informed about the progress of the construction of the border fence on the Latvian-Belorussian border. Currently, 57 km of land has been deforested, so fencing works will start on this stretch in the coming week.
"In both Lithuania and Poland, the fence was built in open fields or in places where there were grounds to build a fence, but the situation on the Latvian-Belarusian border is very difficult because the ground is waterlogged and in many places there are forests and swamps, so unlike in Lithuania or Poland, we had to make thorough preparations before the fence was built. Work is progressing actively and according to plan - deforestation of about 70% of the whole area has been carried out, stump breaking, land grading, ditch digging, construction of culverts, trenches and embankments, etc. Posts are also being erected so that the fence panels can be put in place soon," says Minister of the Interior Kristaps Eklons.
The construction contracts include the design of 147.8 km of infrastructure on the Latvian-Belarusian border, of which a total of about 82 km is to be rebuilt. Fencing is planned throughout this area. Four bridges have now been built over the rivers Asūnīca, Rosica and Sarjanka. Six towers, patrol roads, footbridges and other necessary infrastructure will also be built.
Zane Plone
Advisor to the Minister on Communication Issues
67219314
+37128627003
zane.plone@iem.gov.lv