Latvia expands powers to counter threats at eastern border

Latvia’s border services and military will have broader powers to respond to attackers and threats, the government decided on Tuesday, LSM reported. The decision followed an incident on the Latvia-Belarus border in early October in which masked, armed men tried to bring 20 migrants into Latvia illegally and later damaged infrastructure.

Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs of the United List party said on Wednesday that the government could not allow Latvia to be tested or escalated against without using the means available to it. Asked how the expanded powers would work, he said only that authorities would have greater scope to use kinetic measures along the eastern border.

Latvia’s National Armed Forces, the country’s military, stopped the border crossing attempt. The armed escorts threatened soldiers and urged the migrant group towards Latvia.

A group calling itself the Black Russians later claimed responsibility for the incident. Analysts believe it is a cover organisation created by Belarusian and Russian security services for hybrid operations. Latvia’s State Security Service has opened criminal proceedings over the formation of a criminal organisation.