Saeima supports in principle bill banning part of public administration employees from traveling to Russia and Belarus

RIGA - Saeima on Thursday supported in the first reading a bill that bans part of public administration employees from traveling to Russia and Belarus.

The bill was drafted by Saeima National Security Committee.

The ban is intended to prevent or reduce the threat to Latvia's national security posed by Russia and Belarus, as well as to ensure security and protection of legitimate interests of public administration employees in circumstances where Latvia's ability to protect its nationals is limited.

The travel ban to Russia and Belarus will apply to persons who have been issued a security clearance, who are responsible for security of critical infrastructure, as well as persons employed by the defense, interior, and justice ministries, institutions subordinate to these ministers, persons who work at military facilities, the Corruption Prevention Bureau, the Tax and Customs Police, and the State Revenue Service's Customs Administration.

The ban will also apply to persons working in the diplomatic and consular service, as well as in judicial and prosecutorial authorities.

"It is no secret that Russia and Belarus are stepping up their intelligence activities against Latvia, and any Latvian national who has crossed their borders may be useful to them for this reason. Despite the clear recommendations issued by the Foreign Ministry and the State Security Service not to travel to Russia and Belarus in the interests of both national and personal security, the number of persons traveling from Latvia to Russia or Belarus is increasing," said the National Security Committee's head Ainars Latkovskis (New Unity).

It is extremely dangerous to travel to Russia and Belarus in the current circumstances, but unfortunately large part of society is still unaware of this, said Latkovskis.

"Intelligence services of these countries make contacts with Latvian citizens while they are in Russia or Belarus, where the conditions are more favorable for them. They are also not hindered by counter-intelligence activities of the Latvian national security institutions and the authorities of Latvia's allies. All in all, this means that we have very limited possibilities to help Latvian nationals in Russia and Belarus," said Latkovskis.

"By recruiting Latvian nationals, the aggressor state aims not only to obtain information on the internal political processes in Latvia, its foreign policy activities and security measures for the normal functioning of the state, but also to involve these persons in other harmful activities, including activities against the interests of Latvia, or to prevent them from carrying out their official duties," said Latkovskis.

The ban will also apply to transit through the territories of Russia and Belarus. The ban will not apply to cases where visiting either of the two countries is necessary for the performance of official duties of the person or for humanitarian reasons, and the person has received permission to travel to Russia or Belarus.

The draft law stipulates that violation of the ban on travel to Russia and Belarus will be considered as a sufficient ground for termination of the employment contract with the person concerned.