On Tuesday 10 September, the Cabinet of Ministers extended the reinforced border surveillance regime until 31 December this year.
The reinforced border surveillance regime will be operational in:
- Ludza Municipality: Briģi Parish, Cibla Parish, Cirma Parish, Isnauda Parish, Istra Parish, Lauderi Parish, Nirza Parish, Ņukši Parish, Pasiene Parish, Pilda Parish, Pureņi Parish, Rundēni Parish, Zaļesje Parish, Ludza town and Zilupe town;
- Krāslava Municipality: Andrupene Parish, Andzeļi Parish, Asūne Parish, Auleja Parish, Bērziņš Parish, Dagda Parish, Dagda town, Ezernieki Parish, Grāveri Parish, Indra Parish, Izvalta Parish, Kalnieki Parish, Kaplava Parish, Kastuļina Parish, Kombuļi Parish, Konstantinova Parish, Krāslava Parish, Krāslava town, Ķepova Parish, Piedruja Parish, Robežnieki Parish, Skaista Parish, Svariņi Parish, Šķaune Parish, Šķeltova Parish and Ūdrīši Parish;
- Augšdaugava Municipality: Ambeļi Parish, Biķernieki Parish, Demene Parish, Kalkūne Parish, Laucesa Parish, Līksna Parish, Maļinova Parish, Medumi Parish, Naujene Parish, Saliena Parish, Skrudaliena Parish, Svente Parish, Šēdere Parish, Tabore Parish, Vecsaliena Parish and Višķi Parish;
- Daugavpils State city;
- Kaunata Parish in Rēzekne Municipality.
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 fact that a significant number of illegal border crossing cases or attempts to cross the state border at the Latvia-Belarus state border are still being detected. A total of 4210 persons were deterred from illegal state border crossing between 1 January and 10 September this year.
It is also essential to ensure a coordinated inter-state response to such illegal border crossings in order to maintain an equivalent level of surveillance of the border with the Republic of Belarus across the region.
The war against Ukraine launched by Russia, which is openly supported by Belarus, is an additional risk factor and a possible motivation for Belarus to continue its efforts to destabilise the situation on its border with Latvia.
Pursuant to the Law on the State Border of the Republic of Latvia, a reinforced regime for the operation of the border security system shall be declared for a period of up to six months, with the possibility, if necessary, to extend this period until the relevant threat is eliminated or overcome.
The State Border Guard (SBG) already provides continuous surveillance 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 to ensure border surveillance at the external border of the country in order to prevent illegal crossing of the external border.
Border control is an essential function of the State. It serves not only to protect external borders of the Member States, but also of the entire EU. In addition, only legal entry into a country or crossing a national border at the places and in the manner prescribed for that purpose is to be considered as admissible.
