Latvian Troops Confront Aggressive Migrants at Belarus Border

Latvian troops assisting border guards in securing the border with Belarus encountered a group of aggressive migrants.

According to the Latvian Armed Forces, troops participating in the border security mission prevented five attempts to cross the border illegally over the past 24 hours. The migrants behaved aggressively, throwing sticks at the soldiers.

“To stop the unlawful actions and prevent further escalation of the situation, the troops used tear gas. As the individuals continued to ignore the lawful demands of the authorities and displayed aggressive behavior, one warning shot was fired into the air, after which they retreated to the territory of Belarus.”, the armed forces said.

Latvia is currently the main destination for migratory pressure along the EU’s eastern border. On July 21, Latvian border guards recorded 67 attempts by migrants to cross the border illegally, while no such attempts were registered in either Lithuania or Poland.