A week ago, the border guard had to prevent around 20 illegal attempts at crossing the border daily. In the past few days, these numbers have grown: on Monday there were 56 offenders, 83 on Tuesday, 69 on Wednesday.
“In cooperation with our partners providing support – the State Police, the armed forces – we have prevented these attempts,” said Chief of State Border Guard Guntis Pujāts.
One border offender with significant health problems was allowed to cross the border for humanitarian reasons. Border guards have observed that refugees approaching the Latvian border not only rise in numbers, but they are also better prepared.
“They are equipped with scissors that cut metal. Another group was in long fishing boots and walking along the lake. Our neighboring country's efforts are such as to help these offenders illegally cross the border of Latvia,” Pujāts said.
Two spots of fence damage have also been recorded but both are fixed now.
At the Lithuanian and Polish borders, the situation has gradually become calmer.
“It is currently Latvia that has been designated as the target country of this moment to carry out this hybrid attack. Perhaps they were looking for the weakest place in border guarding. They have not succeeded in attacking Lithuania, Poland. Currently trying to test Latvia. I don't think they're successful, and I'm sure they won't,” the Chief of the Border Guard said.
