The security situation in Latvia is becoming increasingly tense, said Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis (New Unity) in an interview with LTV on the program "Morning Panorama" on Thursday, LETA reports.
The minister emphasized that there is no reason to panic, but society must remain vigilant and report any observed potential security threats to the responsible authorities.
In the context of security, Kozlovskis noted that the budget for the next year includes an increase in funding to strengthen the capacity of the Security Police (SP), as the volume of its work is increasing in the current situation.
It is also expected that the SP will receive funds to increase the number of staff, so that threats can not only be recorded but also prevented more effectively.
Regarding the strengthening of Latvia's eastern border, which is important from a security perspective, the minister stated that this process is going "according to plan," including significant investments from the European Union, which is especially important in the context of budgetary constraints.
Within the framework of European regulations on migrants and asylum seekers, the minister expressed hope that it will be taken into account that Latvia is under significant pressure from illegal migration.
Kozlovskis also added that he sees no benefits for Latvia from the proposals of several parties to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention — on the contrary, this only reveals risks and damage to the country's reputation. Commenting on the impact of this process on relations within the coalition, the minister spoke evasively, only noting that the coalition parties have agreed that the priority at the moment is the adoption of the state budget for the next year.
