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Latvia to Ban Irregular Bus Trips to Russia and Belarus Amid Border Security Concerns
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Latvia is preparing to ban irregular passenger bus services to Russia and Belarus starting October 15, covering one-off trips such as excursions, sports events, and other organized outings.
As reported LSM on August 13, the proposal was introduced by Latvia’s Ministry of Transport. If approved, a government order will stipulate that from October 15, border guards will prohibit irregular passenger carriers from crossing the Latvian-Belarusian and Latvian-Russian borders at the Paternieki, Grebneva, and Terehova checkpoints.
Irregular passenger transport refers to services in which a carrier operates a single trip along a pre-planned route, such as excursions, trips to sports matches, theater performances, song festivals, and similar events.
“The Ministry of Transport, in cooperation with the Road Transport Directorate and in consultation with the Ministry of the Interior, has compiled data showing an increase in the number of passengers traveling by bus to Belarus and Russia. This situation increases security risks at the country’s external border, which is why a regulatory act has been prepared to introduce restrictions […]” said Minister of Transport Atis Švinka.
The draft order must still be approved by the government before the changes come into force.
Earlier, Polish border guards reported over 500 attempted illegal crossings from Belarus into Poland in the past three days.
