Estonia Detains 63 Illegal Migrants in One Week
Estonia's Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) detained 63 illegal migrants this week, nearly double the total for all of last year (39). The migrants, believed to be from Africa, likely enter via Latvia from Belarus, with no respite expected until autumn.
Estonia has seen a sharp increase in illegal migrant detentions this week. The Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) detained 63 people without legal status, compared to 39 in all of last year. Since the start of the year, the total has reached 102.
The detainees had no identification documents, but preliminary information suggests they are from African countries. Interior Minister Igor Taro said the migrants likely enter Estonia via Latvia, where border breaches from Belarus have recently increased. He described this as a long-term hybrid attack that began in Lithuania and spread to Poland and Latvia.
Taro noted that border guards confiscate professional tools used for cutting forests or breaching steel fences. He believes these tools are provided by organized groups, not carried by the migrants themselves.
PPA Director General Egert Belitšev acknowledged that the situation has worsened significantly this week. The influx of illegal migrants is straining not only the police but also the courts and local governments, as many claim to be minors, requiring the appointment of guardians.
According to Belitšev, no significant decrease in migration pressure is expected until October or November, when weather conditions deteriorate.
