Фото: www.mil.lv
Latvia’s National Armed Forces say they have evidence of the involvement of Belarusian security structures in organizing the crossing of the border by migrants.
“Information available to the National Armed Forces and the State Border Guard, as well as documented cases, confirm the involvement of law enforcement and military structures of the Republic of Belarus in transferring illegal migrants to Latvia’s state border. Cases have been identified indicating coordinated actions, including the movement of illegal migrants using Belarusian military transport and the participation of officials in organizing attempts to cross the border,” the Joint Headquarters of the National Armed Forces said in a statement.
The statement said that documents and means of communication belonging to a Belarusian serviceman were found on one of the detained migrants.
“During the inspection, it was established that the materials belonged to a serviceman of the reconnaissance battalion of the 19th Guards Mechanized Brigade stationed in the Vitebsk Region. The documents included internal unit documentation, including records of issued logistical support,” the statement said.
The Latvian armed forces also said that images of Belarusian border guards and border violators, including military equipment, were found on migrants’ mobile devices. Latvian military personnel recorded cases in which Belarusian border guards took part in transporting migrants to locations from which they were sent to cross the border.
“Cases have been recorded indicating the use of illegal migrants for intelligence-gathering purposes and other elements of a hybrid threat. The National Armed Forces and the State Border Guard regularly record manifestations of electronic warfare from the territory of the Republic of Belarus that affect the operation of communication and navigation systems in the border area,” the statement said.