Border Guard chief: officers may refuse an unlawful order, not merely a risky one
The head of Latvia's State Border Guard, Guntis Pujāts, explained on TV24 whether border guards can refuse tasks they consider too dangerous. He stressed that legality, not personal risk assessment, is the deciding factor.
On the TV24 programme “Uz līnijas”, the head of Latvia's State Border Guard, Guntis Pujāts, was asked whether a border guard has the right to refuse a task deemed too dangerous.
Pujāts explained that border guards, upon entering service, take an oath to serve Latvia regardless of risk to their health or life, meaning that performing dangerous duties is an inherent part of the job. While every officer has the right to assess a situation personally, the decisive factor is whether an order is lawful, not a subjective perception of danger.
Refusal only applies to unlawful orders
According to Pujāts, a border guard is entitled to refuse an order only if it is unlawful — legality is the primary principle guiding conduct in such situations. A mere personal sense that a task is too dangerous is not, by law, grounds for refusal if the order itself is lawful.
Risks are weighed by command
The Border Guard chief emphasized that leadership does not deliberately send officers into situations requiring unjustified risk to their life or health. He noted that the service as a whole carries its own challenges and dangers, but risks are assessed and weighed appropriately for each situation. Pujāts also pointed out that several other professions in Latvia involve a comparable degree of danger.
The interview took place against the broader backdrop of border guard work, including the ongoing issue of illegal immigration, which has remained a relevant topic connected to border security.
