Migrant flow on Latvia-Belarus border picks up again

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The flow of migrants on the border of Latvia-Belarus is increasing again as Latvia is still the target country of the Belarusian hybrid attack, head of State Border Guard Guntis Pujāts told Latvian Television on August 12.

Pujāts said that since April, the situation with migration flows on the Latvian border with Belarus had stabilized. “Latvia had remained in the shadows, the pressure was directed against Lithuania, Poland,” the chief of the border guard said.

However, in August and especially in recent days, the situation on the Latvian border is becoming tenser. “There are people being deliberately diverted. There has been an attempt by 30 persons [to cross the border illegally], with 10 persons on the last day. As a result, Latvia will again become a somewhat hot point facing this hybrid attack,” Pujāts said.

There is information at the disposal of the State Border Guard that these flows are formed deliberately and people are being directed to Latvia's borders. “Violations in southern Lithuania were initially dominant. Then gradually the groups came closer to the north of Lithuania and Latvia,” Pujāts said.

Border guards have found that the Belarusian side is helping migrants by cutting the fence in separate places.

“We continue to face hybrid attacks – the Belarusian regime deliberately directs and supports offenders to illegally enter Latvia,” Pujāts said.

The head of the State Border Guard has turned to the Ministry of Defense for support. The State Police have already confirmed that they will go support border guards.

This week, the government extended the state of emergency in Belarus' border area for the fourth time; the decision was later confirmed by the Saeima.

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