Estonia tightens border checks in Valga after surge of migrants crossing from Latvia

Estonia's Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) has intensified checks not only at its eastern border but also in the town of Valga, which sits on the Latvian border. The move follows the apprehension of 41 people who had crossed illegally from Latvia into Estonia over the past week, prompting closer scrutiny of people and vehicles arriving from Latvia.

Checks in Valga were especially increased on Monday. Igor Bogdanov, head of the patrol service at the PPA's southeastern police station, said the migration pressure may have been set in motion by the Belarusian state, though those apprehended come from a wide range of countries. Somali nationals represent the largest group, followed by people from other East African countries including Ethiopia, as well as from more distant countries such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Valga, twinned with Valka on the Latvian side of the border, also has a rail station, where PPA personnel have been checking trains arriving from Latvia, including walking through carriages to verify passengers' documents. Bogdanov said road checks are also underway, and accommodation providers and bus companies have been asked to flag anything suspicious.

Since July, Estonia has detained close to 200 foreign nationals who entered the country illegally, most arriving via Belarus and Latvia, with 72 of them returned to Latvia. Interior Minister Igor Taro (Eesti 200) has described the pattern as organized waves orchestrated by another state. The pressure has weighed heavily on the court system, particularly the Tallinn Administrative Court, which must approve PPA detention requests. Just outside Tallinn, child protection services in Rae municipality have struggled with a rise in migrants claiming to be minors. Estonia has extended its border-guard rotation along Latvia's border with Belarus and has asked Finland for assistance with patrols and returns.