Pakistani national detained over forged Estonian passport

LSM reported, citing the State Border Guard, that a court has ordered the detention of a Pakistani national suspected of using a forged passport belonging to another Estonian citizen and concealing his identity while in Latvia.

Border guards opened criminal proceedings against the man on August 7 after he presented the forged passport at the Riga Airport border control point during immigration checks.

He was recognised as a suspect, and on August 9 a Riga City Court investigating judge ordered his detention.

The suspect appealed, seeking to have the detention lifted. However, a judge of the Criminal Cases Chamber of the Riga Regional Court upheld the lower court’s decision and rejected the appeal. The regional court’s decision cannot be challenged.

The pre-trial investigation is continuing. Once it is completed, authorities will decide how to proceed with the case.

In 2026, border guards identified 64 people who used 71 forged documents or documents issued to other people. Last year, they identified 69 people who used 83 such documents.

These offences are punishable by up to one year in prison, short-term imprisonment, probation supervision, community service or a fine.