Latvia extends enhanced control at border with Belarus until end of 2024

MINSK. Sept 11 (Interfax) - The Latvian government has extended enhanced control at the border with Belarus until the end of this year, the government press service said in a statement on Tuesday.

"On Tuesday, September 10, the government extended enhanced border control until December 31, 2024," the statement said.

Enhanced border control will be in effect in the Ludza, Kraslava and Augsdaugava regions, Daugavpils, and the Kaunas district of the Rezekne region, it said.

"The order aims to ensure inviolability of the state border, to prevent threats to the state, as well as to respond to the disproportionately large number of cases of state border trespassing or attempted trespassing recorded at the Latvian-Belarusian border. Border trespassing by 4,210 individuals was prevented from January 1 to September 10," the statement said.

"There is also need for combined, coordinated interstate efforts to contain attempted trespassing of the state border in order to provide equal security at the border with Belarus for countries of the entire region," it said.

The Latvian authorities enhanced control at the border with Belarus on March 13. It was due to end on September 12.