Cooperation between Latvian and Belarusian border guards on illegal immigration has become less intensive

Riga - Latvian border guards maintain communication with their Belarusian colleagues on cases of illegal immigration but cooperation between the two countries has become significantly less intensive, Kristine Petersone, a representative of the Latvian State Border Guard, told LETA. 

Although the number of illegal immigrants detained in recent months on the Latvian-Belarusian border has been small compared to the situation in Lithuania, Belarusian border guards are reserved in their communication with Latvian colleagues about illegal immigration issues. 

Petersone noted that because of the pandemic in-person meetings between Latvian and Belarusian border guards are not taking place. Instead, information on border trespassing is shared in writing. 

As reported, for several weeks already Lithuania has seen an increased inflow of illegal migrants from Belarus, which has caused Latvia to step up its border controls as well. European politicians assume that the migrants are crossing from Belarus with the support of Belarusian authorities.

In July alone, Lithuanian authorities recorded 2,484 cases of illegal border crossing.

Lithuania has declared a state of emergency over the migration crisis. 

On Monday, Latvian border guards detained a group of nine Iraqi citizens who had illegally entered Latvia from Belarus.