Latvia is planning to temporarily close part of the “Paternieki” checkpoint on its border with Belarus in response to an influx of migrants, aiming to prevent illegal border crossings.
Guntis Pujāts, the head of the Latvian Border Guard, stated that the agency would request government approval to close the checkpoint partially, permitting only vehicle traffic.
The decision follows concerns raised last week when border authorities detected a group of people suspected of being foreign nationals attempting to cross illegally. Additionally, four migrants were apprehended at the border, and it was feared that the flow could increase. To mitigate the situation, the checkpoint was closed temporarily but resumed operations around midnight after the suspected violators had left.
Pujāts acknowledged that while a complete closure of the checkpoint remains an option, a partial closure is currently the most feasible solution. The Latvian government is expected to discuss the possibility of restricting pedestrian and bicycle crossings on Tuesday, March 18, potentially limiting access to vehicles only.
In the event of a significant increase in illegal border activity, the checkpoint could remain closed for up to six months. Should the situation worsen, the Border Guard may request a full closure.
This is the first instance of an immediate border checkpoint closure, though similar situations had previously prompted the Border Guard to prepare for such actions. Pujāts also warned that large groups of migrants might target Latvia in the future, particularly as many violators are currently heading toward Poland.
“Right now, a very large number of violators are heading towards Poland. We do not rule out that at some point, these flows may be redirected to Latvia,” he said.
