Latvia–Belarus border closed unexpectedly, minister explains situation

The Latvian–Belarusian border has been temporarily closed for technical reasons, announced Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava (National Alliance) on the social media platform X on Thursday, 30 July. The minister called on Latvians who have not yet returned to the country to use alternative routes.

The LETA news agency has so far been unable to reach Dombrava for comment. In his post, the minister also urged residents to abandon plans to travel to Belarus or return from it. He explained that amid Belarus’s ongoing migration hybrid war, safe movement between the two countries may become difficult.

Dombrava went on to say that Estonia is a friend of Latvia. Following a meeting with Estonian Interior Minister Igor Taro last week, he said he had received confirmation that Estonia is sending additional border guards to reinforce Latvia’s external border.

Earlier, the government had extended the reinforced border protection regime along the Belarusian border until the end of this year. The measure was introduced because of the increased flow of illegal migrants orchestrated by Belarus. The control regime applies in Ludza and the parishes of Ludza Municipality, Krāslava and its municipality’s parishes, Augšdaugava Municipality, Daugavpils and Kaunata Parish in Rēzekne Municipality.

According to border guard data, in the previous year a total of 12,046 attempts to illegally cross the Latvian–Belarusian border were prevented, while 31 irregular migrants were allowed to cross for humanitarian reasons. In 2024, 5,388 people were stopped from illegally crossing the border, and 26 people were admitted into the country on humanitarian grounds.