Latvia closes its only border crossing with Belarus
Photo: Latvian border guard at the Belarus border (Getty Images)
Crossing the border between Latvia and Belarus is currently impossible. The only operational border crossing has been closed, while the reason for the shutdown and when it will reopen remain unknown, according to Latvian Interior Minister Janis Dombrova.
The minister said that traffic across the Latvia-Belarus border had been temporarily suspended due to technical issues.
"We ask those who have not yet returned to Latvia to use alternative routes," Dombrova said.
Latvian outlet LSM reported, citing the State Border Guard, that the disruption occurred at the only operational border crossing, Paternieki.
Due to an issue with the information systems, border guards are currently unable to conduct checks on people and vehicles.
The cause of the malfunction and the timeline for fixing it remain unknown. Latvia's State Border Guard said it would provide updates as soon as the border crossing resumes operations.
A day earlier, Dombrova also advised residents to refrain from traveling to Belarus or returning through this route. According to him, safe movement across the border could be complicated amid Minsk's hybrid migration policy.
The minister also said that Estonia had sent additional border guards to reinforce the protection of Latvia's external border.
In early July, the Latvian government extended until the end of the year a heightened security regime along certain sections of the Belarus border due to the continued high number of attempts to cross the state border illegally.
Earlier, Latvia announced plans to gradually replace road signs displaying the names of cities and towns in Russia and Belarus.
According to Latvian authorities, there are 235 road signs on the country's state roads bearing the names of cities in Russia and Belarus. They will be replaced during scheduled road repairs and infrastructure upgrades, without additional funding from the state budget. The estimated cost of the work is 120,000 euros.
