Latvian Border Guard Stops 42 Illegal Crossing Attempts From Belarus in One Day

Latvia's State Border Guard on Thursday stopped 42 people from illegally crossing the Latvian-Belarusian border. Since the start of this year, 12,922 people have been deterred from crossing illegally. Latvia has faced a migrant pressure orchestrated by Belarus since August 2021.

At the Pāternieki border checkpoint, entry into Latvia was denied for security reasons to one Russian and one Ukrainian citizen.

Border regime

The government has extended the enhanced border security regime along the Belarusian border until the end of this year. The decision is based on the increased flow of illegal migrants caused by Belarus. Reinforced controls apply in Ludza and the rural municipalities of Ludza district, Krāslava and its district's rural municipalities, Augšdaugava district, Daugavpils, and Kaunata parish in Rēzekne district.

Comparison with previous years

Last year, border guards prevented 12,046 people from crossing illegally, while 31 migrants were allowed in on humanitarian grounds. This year's figure of people deterred already exceeds last year's total.

In 2024, 5,388 people were stopped and 26 were admitted on humanitarian grounds. In 2023, 13,863 people were deterred and 428 were admitted for humanitarian reasons. In 2022, 5,286 attempts were prevented, and 217 people were not refused crossing on humanitarian grounds.

Video from the border

TV3 News has obtained new video footage from Latvia's eastern border, which shows that the work of border guards is difficult and potentially dangerous. Material published on social media shows Latvian border guards reloading their weapons and telling an illegal migrant to stop trying to climb the border fence.