Latvian border guards prevented another 251 attempts to illegally cross the border from Belarus over the weekend. Since the beginning of the year, the number of such cases has already approached four thousand.
The State Border Guard reported that over the past weekend, 251 attempts to illegally cross the border were prevented at the Latvian-Belarusian border.
Since the beginning of 2026, border guards have already stopped 3,959 people.
Against the backdrop of ongoing pressure, the government has extended the enhanced border security regime in the border areas with Belarus until June 30. The special regime is in effect in Ludza, Kraslava Municipality, Augšdaugava Municipality, Daugavpils, and part of the Rezekne Municipality.
Latvian authorities have repeatedly stated that they view the flow of illegal migration as an element of hybrid pressure from Belarus. This situation has been ongoing for several years and affects not only Latvia but also Lithuania and Poland.
Despite seasonal fluctuations, the number of attempts to cross the border remains high.
For comparison: last year, Latvian border guards prevented more than 12,000 attempts of illegal entry into the country. In 2024, there were over 5,300 such cases.
In certain situations, people are still allowed entry for humanitarian reasons. Last year, 31 people were admitted to Latvia on such grounds, and in 2024, 26.
The enhanced regime at the border provides additional powers for security services and stricter control in border areas.
The issue of protecting the eastern border remains one of the key concerns for Latvian authorities amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and rising tensions in the region.
