Latvia to Close Key Border Crossings With Russia and Belarus to Prevent Migrant Crisis

Latvia is set to close border checkpoints to pedestrians and cyclists along its frontiers with Russia and Belarus, a move aimed at preventing a potential migrant crisis, according to Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis. The Latvian government is expected to approve the decision on March 19, Latvian media outlet Delfi reported on March 18.

The restrictions will apply to Grebņeva (Russia’s Ubylinka) and Terehova (Burachki) border crossings, allowing only vehicles to pass through. A similar measure has already been implemented at Pāternieki (Grigorovshchina) on the Belarusian border, which was closed to pedestrian and bicycle traffic on March 16.

Kozlovskis emphasized that the decision was not made on impulse but was based on a thorough assessment of potential threats.

According to an official government briefing, Russia’s war against Ukraine—actively supported by Belarus—poses a significant risk factor and could drive further attempts to destabilize the Latvian border.

The minister added that most government agencies have already approved the measure, meaning there should be no obstacles to its implementation.

Guntis Pujāts, head of the Latvian Border Guard, pointed to recent attempts by a group of 30 migrants to cross into Latvia from Belarus, which prompted the closure of the Pāternieki crossing.

“They come here, but I don’t know what they expect. They have no visas, no residence permits,” Pujāts said. He added that many of these migrants arrive with bicycles they don’t even know how to ride—pushing them instead.

“This is clearly an attempt to weaponize migration,” he stated. However, he noted that the temporary closure of border points has already yielded results, stabilizing the situation.

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Kozlovskis suggested that the new measures could remain in effect for at least six months.

“If we look at Finland, all their border crossings remain closed… Even Lithuania, which has traditionally been much calmer than Latvia, is now experiencing increased migrant flows and more illegal border crossing attempts. Unfortunately, the situation hasn’t changed, and we won’t be able to ease restrictions anytime soon,” the minister said.

Earlier, reports emerged that Poland aims to finish the construction of a border wall along its eastern frontier with Belarus by mid-2025 to curb the flow of migrants, which Warsaw has described as a hybrid warfare tactic orchestrated by Russia.

Maciej Dusić, the Deputy Minister for Migration, stated that the additional works along the 400-kilometer border are expected to be completed by the middle of 2025. He emphasized that once the construction is finished, the security level at the border will reach “nearly 100%.”