On Tuesday, 10 September, the Cabinet of Ministers (CM) extended the reinforced border security regime until 31 December of the current year.
The reinforced border security regime will operate:
- in Ludza Municipality: Briģu Rural Territory, Ciblas Rural Territory, Cirmas Rural Territory, Isnaudas Rural Territory, Istras Rural Territory, Lauderu Rural Territory, Nirzas Rural Territory, Ņukšu Rural Territory, Pasienes Rural Territory, Pildas Rural Territory, Pureņu Rural Territory, Rundēnu Rural Territory, Zaļesjes Rural Territory, Ludza Town and Zilupe Town;
- in Krāslava Municipality: Andrupenes Rural Territory, Andzeļu Rural Territory, Asūnes Rural Territory, Aulejas Rural Territory, Bērziņu Rural Territory, Dagdas Rural Territory, Dagda Town, Ezernieku Rural Territory, Grāveru Rural Territory, Indras Rural Territory, Izvaltas Rural Territory, Kalniešu Rural Territory, Kaplavas Rural Territory, Kastuļinas Rural Territory, Kombuļu Rural Territory, Konstantinovas Rural Territory, Krāslavas Rural Territory, Krāslava Town, Ķepovas Rural Territory, Piedrujas Rural Territory, Robežnieku Rural Territory, Skaistas Rural Territory, Svariņu Rural Territory, Šķaunes Rural Territory, Šķeltovas Rural Territory and Ūdrīšu Rural Territory;
- in the Augšdaugava Municipality: Ambeļu Rural Territory, Biķernieku Rural Territory, Demenes Rural Territory, Kalkūnas Rural Territory, Laucesas Rural Territory, Līksnas Rural Territory, Maļinovas Rural Territory, Medumu Rural Territory, Naujenes Rural Territory, Salienas Rural Territory, Skrudalienas Rural Territory, Sventes Rural Territory, Šēderes Rural Territory, Tabores Rural Territory, Vecsalienas Rural Territory and Višķu Rural Territory;
- in Daugavpils State City;
- in Rēzekne Municipality Kaunatas Rural Territory.
The Order was issued to ensure the inviolability of the state border and the prevention of threats to the state, as well as in view of the disproportionally big number of illegal crossing of the state border or their attempts at the Latvian-Belarusian state border. In total, from 1 January to 10 September of this year, 4,210 persons were prevented from illegally crossing the state border.
Besides, it is essential to ensure a coordinated inter-national response to such illegal border crossings in order to maintain equal protection of the borders with the Republic of Belarus throughout the region.
Similarly, the war against Ukraine, launched by Russia and openly supported by the Belarusian regime, should be seen as an additional risk factor and a possible motivation for Belarus to continue its efforts to destabilize the situation on its State border with Latvia.
In accordance with the State Border Law of the Republic of Latvia, a reinforced border security regime is announced for a period of up to six months, with the possibility to extend the above-mentioned period in case of need until the relevant threat is prevented or overcome.
The State Border Guard (SBG) already provides continuous protection of the eastern border. However, in view of the increasing number of illegal border crossing attempts, the State Police (SP) and the National Armed Forces (NAF) have been instructed to provide the necessary support to the SBG in ensuring external border surveillance to prevent illegal crossing of the external state border.
Border control is an essential State function within the European Union (EU), which serves not only to protect the external borders of the Member States, but also of the EU as a whole. In addition, only lawful entry into the country or crossing the State border at the places and in the manner prescribed for that purpose is to be considered admissible.