Police will not crack down on queue-place sales at Narva border

Police will not introduce additional measures to stop people selling places in the queue near the Narva border crossing, Interior Minister Igor Taro said in response to a parliamentary question, ERR reported.

The Interior Ministry and the Police and Border Guard Board are aware of the practice. Taro said the queue forms independently in public urban space, and no regulations govern the organisation of such queues.

“The Police and Border Guard Board monitors the situation from the perspective of public order and safety. If violations or conflicts emerge, the police will intervene,” Taro said.

He added that police assess all information suggesting possible organised crime. Reports involving threats, extortion or other criminal activity are checked, and proceedings are launched when necessary. Taro said there was no confirmation that a criminal group was involved.

Police received 46 reports in 2025 that queue places were being sold at Peetri Square in Narva. This year, they have received 16 such reports. Reports of public-order violations totalled 62 last year and 17 this year.

However, not all of these reports can be linked to the border queue, Taro said. Over the past two years, police have received seven reports of offences connected to the area. Two involved alleged theft or causing bodily injury, while five concerned misdemeanours such as damaging another person’s property, drinking alcohol in public, ignoring officials’ orders or insulting officials.

No proceedings have been initiated based solely on reports about the sale of queue places. Narva police officers have resolved the situations by removing the sellers from the queue, Taro said.

Asked why police do not maintain a permanent presence or conduct regular patrols near the border crossing, Taro said the police were not legally responsible for organising the queue of people crossing the border on foot in public space.

Police are responsible for maintaining public order, he said, adding that patrols and police presence near the Narva border crossing are organised on a risk-based basis. A permanent guard at every location where a queue forms would not be practical or proportionate. People can call 112 if there is a conflict or a risk of violence.

Asked what specific measures the Interior Ministry would take to end the sale of queue places, Taro recommended avoiding travel to Russia altogether and said the Police and Border Guard Board would continue risk-based patrols and respond to specific incidents.