By Friday, December 22, 110 kilometers were built, or 98% of this year's planned 112 kilometers of border fence along the border of 173 km in total.
Along sections of the border that are rivers, streams and swamps, construction of the border fence is planned to be completed by July next year. Currently, the design works have been completed along these sections to create 33.5 kilometers of patrol lanes. In these sections, deforestation has already started on publicly-owned land, which should allow construction of the fence to start sooner.
Meanwhile, design work is underway on the Daugava River, which envisages the construction of six communication towers with access roads, as well as a 16.7-kilometer patrol lane.
On Friday, Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis (New Unity) and Finance Minister Arvils Ašeradens (New Unity) went on a working visit to inspect the border.
Previously only lightly protected, the use of hybrid human trafficking on the European Union's external border, first by Belarus and latterly by Russia, plus the invasion of Ukraine, has forced all countries bordering the aggressor states to ramp up their external security infrastructure.
The entire fence of the eastern border zone with Russia and Belarus is expected to be completed by the beginning of 2025. After that, the installation of other elements of border protection infrastructure will continue.
