The emergency situation on the border of Belarus is extended for the fourth time / Article

Taking into account the indications of the internal affairs services about the potential risks related to a possible re-organized hybrid attack by the Belarusian regime, as well as Belarus’ support for Russia’s expanded war in Ukraine, the government supported the extension of the state of emergency on the Latvian-Belarusian border.

The state of emergency in Ludza, Krāslava, Augšdaugava counties and Daugavpils state city has been extended until November 10 of this year.

For the first time, the government declared a state of emergency in the four above-mentioned administrative territories on the border of Belarus from 2021 August 11 to November 10. However, it was later extended until 2022 for February 10later – until May 10but then again – until 2022 for August 10.

Now the state of emergency at the border has been extended for the fourth time.

In the period from June 1 to June 30, 2022, the State Border Guard has prevented 96 persons from illegally crossing the border and detained two persons on the Latvian-Belarusian border. The Ministry of the Interior stated that in August, compared to July, the number of persons who tried to illegally cross the Latvia-Belarus border increased. In July, 13 attempts of people to illegally cross the border were prevented, but from August 1 to 8, there were already 50 of them, so it is necessary to treat this situation with caution and be prepared for different situations.

The State Border Guard regularly analyzes the situation at the border, informing the Ministry of the Interior about potential risks. Similarly, the Latvian services, in cooperation with Lithuanian colleagues, have identified the route of migrants from third countries to enter the European Union: with the support of Belarus and Russia, migrants from Iran reach Russia, go to Minsk and then are directed to the border of Poland, Lithuania or Latvia. Border guards have also found that the number of flights from Iran to Russia has increased, so there is a risk that the flow of third-country nationals could resume.

The government also decided that with the extension of the state of emergency, a more flexible procedure for determining bonuses for work in conditions of increased risk and stress will be established for the State Border Guard, State Police and State Security Service. The amount of bonuses will be determined up to 50% of the hourly wage rate set for the official or employee.

CONTEXT:

in the summer of 2021 the number of migrants increased significantly, who are trying to illegally enter the territory of Latvia, Lithuania and Poland from Belarus. Most migrants are came from Iraq.

Officials of the Baltic States and Poland stated that the authorities of Belarus does not deliberately put obstacles in the way of crossing the borderin order to punish these countries for supporting the Belarusian opposition and sanctions against Alexander Lukashenko’s regime.

European Union such action described as the deployment of a hybrid war.

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