Estonia sees rising number of border crossers arriving from Latvia
Estonian public television reports a growing number of migrants entering the country illegally via Latvia, straining the asylum reception system. Most of them are expected to be sent back to Latvia.
Estonia's public broadcaster news program "Aktuaalne kaamera" has reported a recent increase in the number of migrants reaching the country by illegally crossing the border from Latvia. The trend has added pressure on Estonian authorities responsible for receiving and housing asylum seekers.
Tallinn facility nearly full
According to the broadcast, the asylum seeker accommodation center in Tallinn is now close to full capacity. The rising number of residents combined with limited space has created tension inside the facility, with conflicts reportedly breaking out among those staying there.
Most expected to be returned to Latvia
Estonian authorities anticipate that the majority of migrants who entered the country illegally through Latvia will be sent back to Latvia. This suggests Estonia is treating the matter within the framework of border-crossing arrangements between the two Baltic states, viewing Latvia as the responsible party for handling these individuals going forward.
The report did not specify the migrants' countries of origin or provide exact figures on how many people have recently entered Estonia from Latvia. No further details were given regarding what measures, if any, Estonian or Latvian authorities plan to take to curb illegal border crossings between the two countries.
