Latvia has been beefing up its security measures along the Belarusian border since the arrival of the Wagner mercenary group fighters. Riga has also accused Minsk of helping migrants enter Latvia illegally.
Latvia Boosts Border Security With Belarus As Tensions Grow
A Latvian State Border Guard helicopter takes off from Lidumnieki to inspect the area near the Belarusian-Latvian border on August 8.
Latvia, Poland, and other countries on NATO's eastern flank have voiced concerns about a potential threat from Belarus, which now hosts thousands of troops belonging to the Wagner mercenary group.
Latvia, along with Poland, has been beefing up its security measures along its border since the arrival of the Wagner forces in Belarus in July.
A Latvian border sign is seen at the Latvia-Belarus border near Robeznieki.
The border between both countries is almost 173 kilometers long. Latvia also shares a border with Russia to its east.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics inspects the Latvia-Russia border near Lidumnieki on August 8.
The Baltic state has accused its neighboring country and its ruler, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, of deliberately bringing migrants from crisis regions to the border to enter Latvia illegally.
Latvian State Border Guard special unit officers patrol along the fence at the Belarusian border near Robeznieki.
Riga has accused the Belarusian security forces of damaging the border fence and allowing four migrants to illegally cross in what it has referred to as "another provocation."
In August 2021, the government in Riga declared a state of emergency in the border region and authorized the Border Guard to turn away migrants.
According to the authorities, almost 5,300 people have been prevented from crossing the border illegally in Latvia so far this year.