Latvia proposes suspending road border crossing with Belarus

Latvia’s Interior Ministry will propose suspending operations at the Pāternieki road border crossing with Belarus, LSM reports. If the government approves the proposal, residents and freight vehicles will no longer be able to enter Belarus from Latvia by road.

Pāternieki is currently the only official road border crossing between Latvia and Belarus. The Indra railway crossing remains open for freight trains only, while passengers have been unable to travel to Belarus by air for several years, according to the LETA news agency.

The draft government decision has been submitted for approval and is to be considered by the Cabinet under an urgent procedure. The Interior Ministry said the measure would help protect the country’s security, prevent threats to public order, support the State Border Guard and other services in preventing illegal border crossings, and optimise border guard resources during crises.

The ministry said pressure from illegal migration remained high and continued to require significant resources from the State Border Guard and other services. The prolonged period of enhanced border security had also placed sustained pressure on border guard personnel.

According to the ministry, existing staffing levels are insufficient to carry out two critical tasks at the same time: full control at border crossing points and physical protection of the “green” border.

Under the law, when an enhanced border security regime is declared, the Cabinet may introduce measures throughout the border area or part of it, including fully or partially suspending the operation of specific border crossing points.

The ministry also said Belarus had long continued to allow and facilitate the uncontrolled illegal crossing of the state border by third-country nationals.