State Security Service making sure situation at eastern border not being exploited by radical elements and that there are no intelligence risks

RIGA - In accordance with its competence, the State Security Service continues to monitor that the situation on the eastern border of the country is not being exploited by radical elements and to prevent intelligence services of Belarus and other unfriendly countries to enter the territory of Latvia, LETA informed by the State Security Service.

In connection with the events taking place on the Lithuanian-Belarusian and Latvian-Belarusian borders, the State Security Service is working on high alert to identify and reduce potential risks to the security of the Latvian state. The State Security Service is one of the institutions that, in accordance with its competence, is involved in the inspection of persons who have entered Latvia illegally.

It is within the competence of the service to assess whether the presence of specific persons in Latvia cannot pose a threat to national security.

According to the State Security Service, cases of illegal border crossings are associated with various risks. In accordance with its competence, the State Security Service monitors that extreme or radical persons who may pose risks to the security of the state and society are not exploiting the current situation to enter the territory of Latvia.

The service is also careful in working to prevent the exploitation of this situation by the intelligence services of Belarus and other unfriendly countries, creating intelligence risks.

Responding to a question about the results of checks on persons who have crossed the Latvian border illegally, the State Security Service informed that the process of evaluating these persons is still ongoing.

In accordance with its competence, the State Security Service monitors changes in the situation on the Latvian-Belarusian border and is ready to take appropriate measures also in the event of a possible increase in the number of border violators.

In its work, the State Security Service closely works together with the State Border Guard and other responsible services. The State Security Service also regularly contacts foreign partner services to exchange up-to-date information related to the current situation.

The analysis of information performed by the State Security Service shows that the increase in the number of illegal border crossers is not related to sudden changes in migration trends in the world. These incidents are linked to measures taken by the Belarussian regime to destabilize the European Union's external border.

As reported, since August 10, a total of 770 persons have been stopped from crossing from Belarus into Latvia.

In the past 24 hours nobody was detained for illegally crossing the border. Since a state of emergency was declared in regions at the Latvian-Belarusian border on August 11, 25 illegal immigrants have been allowed to enter Latvia for humanitarian reasons.

LETA also reported, taking into consideration the steeply increasing numbers of illegal immigrants trying to cross into Latvia from Belarus, the government has declared a state of emergency that will run from August 11 until November 10 in the following municipalities: Ludza Region, Kraslava Region, Augsdaugava Region, and the City of Daugavpils.