Hunters find eight border crossers, warn of fatal risk

Hunters found eight people who had crossed the border during a driven hunt in Krāslava municipality, and warned that people hiding in the woods could go unnoticed and be shot. LSM reported that the encounter was the Konstantinova hunting group’s first with migrants.

On Saturday, October 10, 21 hunters and seven beaters gathered for the hunt in Uzvara, in Konstantinova parish. During the drive, hunters shot an elk calf. The beaters then reported seeing people in the forest. The eight came out in a line, unsure why people were shouting and shots were being fired, according to hunting group leader Ivars Kekers. He said they were trembling, though he did not know whether it was from cold or fear.

Kekers said the group did not appear aggressive. The hunters were unable to communicate with them in English, but their behaviour suggested they were thirsty and hungry. The hunters gave them food and water.

The hunting grounds are about 25 kilometres from the Latvia-Belarus border. Border guards arrived about half an hour after the hunters found the group.

A representative of the Daugavpils Border Guard Administration said the group was the one authorities had been searching for since October 8, when signs of an illegal border crossing were detected. Two dog handlers, the National Armed Forces and the State Police took part in the search, and drones were also used. The trail was lost in a marshy area, after which the search was stopped.