Rinkēvičs On Possible Border Closure With Belarus: We Are Leaving The Question Open

Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs visited the Latvian-Belarusian border on Aug. 17. He familiarized himself with the current situation at the border, measures to prevent migration pressure, the technical equipment used by border guards and planned counter-mobility measures.

Rinkēvičs said the escalation of the situation on the Latvian-Belarusian border in recent months was linked to the Lukashenka regime’s desire to influence Latvian society ahead of parliamentary elections.

“The Lukashenka regime and not only it — the Russian Federation also very much wants to show that the Latvian authorities, our Armed Forces, our Border Guard, our internal affairs and defense system cannot cope with this pressure, and to sow a certain distrust in society”, LSM quotes him as saying.

According to Rinkēvičs, the question of closing the Pāternieki border crossing with Belarus remains open.

“At present, we are leaving absolutely all options open, depending on how the situation develops. If such a need arises, any decision will be made at the level of the National Security Council or the government”, the Latvian president said. He added that complaints about this should be addressed to the Belarusian authorities and those conducting a hybrid operation against Latvia.

Rinkēvičs noted the technical equipment at the border, but pointed out that there are not enough people to guard it, the Latvian president’s press service reports.

“During the visit, I became convinced that by the end of the year, the Latvian-Belarusian border will be fully equipped with technologies ensuring more effective border control. However, to make full use of them, the Border Guard requires additional personnel resources — up to 200 officers, to ensure a rapid response.

A fence, sensors and video surveillance are only one element, but border guards capable of responding quickly are still needed, especially given the real evidence of how our border infrastructure is being damaged. Otherwise, the investments made in technology will not provide a real return”, Rinkēvičs said.