In the evening of August 4, the 'Paternieki' border checkpoint partially resumed operations after a technical failure. As reported to the LETA agency by the State Border Guard of Latvia, entry into Latvia from Belarus is now again permitted through the checkpoint.
However, leaving Latvia for Belarus remains impossible.
The operation of the checkpoint was disrupted since July 31 due to technical issues in the information systems. Now, some problems have been resolved, allowing for the processing of incoming travelers. Previously, the border service recommended that travelers use the Miedzininkai and Shalchininkai crossing points on the Lithuanian-Belarusian border.
On Tuesday, the government also discussed the situation at the Latvian-Belarusian border, but did not support the Interior Ministry's proposal to temporarily close the 'Paternieki' checkpoint to combat illegal migration.
Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs stated that additional preventive measures will be implemented by law enforcement agencies in August to limit the flow of illegal migrants at the external border of the European Union. According to him, the authorities are considering various options, including a possible closure of the border checkpoint, but there is currently no need for this, as the main pressure from migration flows is observed outside the checkpoint itself.
Until the end of the year, an enhanced state border security regime continues to operate in the border areas with Belarus, introduced due to the ongoing migration pressure.
Read more about the situation here
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