State of emergency in Belarus border areas could be extended for another three months

• Published date: 03 May 2022
• Publication title: LETA

RIGA, May 3 (LETA) - Taking into account the situation on the Latvian-Belarusian border, which remains unchanged, the Ministry of the Interior (MoI) will encourage the government to extend the state emergency in several Latgale municipalities until August 10, LETA has found out.

Taking into account the increased pressure of illegal immigration, the Latvian government last year declared a state of emergency in Ludza, Kraslava and Augsdaugava counties, as well as in Daugavpils. The current state of emergency is expected to end on May 10 this year.

The Ministry of the Interior has indicated that since August 10, 2021, a total of 6,656 people have been deterred from crossing the state border illegally. The State Border Guard informed LETA that 156 people have not been prevented from crossing the state border due to humanitarian reasons since the introduction of the state of emergency, while a total of 508 third-country nationals who crossed the state border illegally were detained last year and so far this year.

lthough the number of persons crossing the Latvian-Belarusian border illegally has decreased, border guards are still detecting cases of illegal border crossing. In February, 863 persons were prevented from crossing the state border illegally, in March - 267 persons, and in April - 20 persons, according to the Ministry of the...