Key facts
- Latvia closed its border with Belarus on July 31.
- The closure was attributed to "technical reasons" by Interior Minister Janis Dombrava.
- Travellers are advised to seek alternative routes for crossing.
- The Paternieki border crossing is the sole operational point between Latvia and Belarus.
- The closure coincides with an increase in attempted irregular migration across the border.
Latvia closed its border with Belarus on July 31, citing "technical reasons," according to Latvian Interior Minister Janis Dombrava. In a social media post, Dombrava urged travellers to use alternative routes, as the Paternieki crossing remains the only operational one between the two countries.
This development follows Latvia's closure of the Silene border crossing in 2023 due to alleged orchestrated irregular migration by Minsk. The decision comes amid a growing number of attempted illegal crossings by migrants across the Belarusian-Latvian border, with Latvian authorities reporting dozens of such attempts daily in recent weeks. The minister had previously advised Latvian residents against planning trips to Belarus due to potential movement issues amidst what he described as a "hybrid war from Belarus."