Latvia’s Ministry of Transport has drafted amendments предусматривающие a complete ban on regular international passenger bus services to Russia and Belarus, as well as transit services through their territories. The amendments must be approved by the Cabinet of Ministers before they can enter into force, writes Delfi.
A ban on irregular international transport services across the Latvian-Belarusian and Latvian-Russian borders is already in place. The new rules would extend the restriction to regular routes. After approval, the Road Transport Administration (ATD) will issue individual administrative acts cancelling permits for specific carriers.
“In connection with the conclusions of the State Security Service outlined in the service’s 2025 activity report, there are grounds to conclude that the existence of transport links with Belarus and Russia objectively contributes to the implementation of the identified national security threat. The existence of regular routes to Belarus and Russia, alongside other travel opportunities, increases the risk for Latvian citizens of encountering situations involving influence and recruitment”, the ministry said.
Carrier Norma-A, operating under the Ecolines brand, estimates direct losses from a ban on the Riga–Saint Petersburg and Riga–Moscow routes at around €4 million per year, while an additional €2 million in losses would result from idle vehicles.
The ministry acknowledged that carriers would be able to seek compensation for losses under the Administrative Procedure Law.
