Unscrupulous dealers are spreading rumors that the state allegedly plans mass expropriation of lands in the border zone, only to later buy them from frightened owners "for a pittance." This was stated by the parliamentary secretary of the Ministry of Defense, Liene Gatere.
She emphasized that the state does not intend to take private properties with buildings - it is only about the so-called "bare" lands needed for the creation of defense infrastructure. According to Gatere, anyone who has doubts or concerns can call the Ministry of Defense's "hotline."
As previously reported, the Saeima has adopted in the final reading a bill to create counter-mobility infrastructure, aimed at facilitating the construction of the Baltic defense line. The provisions regarding real estate have sparked the most discussion: the law provides for a special procedure allowing the Cabinet of Ministers to designate areas that are assigned the status of national interest objects and that can be expropriated for the construction of fortifications.
Gatere noted that the ministry receives several calls from owners of borderlands each day, but most inquiries are related to myths and speculation. The counter-mobility plan includes the use of both artificial and natural obstacles - lakes, rivers, and forests.
According to the Ministry of Defense's calculations, counter-mobility facilities will occupy only about 0.15% of the border territory, or approximately 2000 hectares of land, half of which is already owned by the state or municipalities.
"Of course, people are concerned about their property, but I want to reassure them - this will affect a very small part of all property in the border zone," emphasized Gatere.
The Chairman of the Saeima Defense, Internal Affairs, and Corruption Prevention Commission, Raimonds Bergmanis, added that there is also a myth among residents that expropriation could affect all property within 30 kilometers of the border. According to him, the 30 km is mentioned in the law's annotation only because individual objects - such as engineering parks or warehouses - may be located further from the border. "Everything else will be located as close to the border as possible. Our concept is protection from the very first centimeter," emphasized Bergmanis.
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