Belarus bans import of number of goods from Latvia

MINSK. Nov 2 (Interfax) - Belarus has banned the import of a number of goods from Latvia in response to the closure of the Silene road checkpoint, the Belarusian government's press service said on Thursday.

"The government has extended the list of goods banned for import and distribution in Belarus. The changes are made to government resolution N700 of December 6, 2021," the statement said.

"In particular, the list has been extended to include certain goods originating from the Republic of Latvia: coffee, jam, fruit jelly, marmalade candy, fruit, nuts, juice, water, beer, liquors and other brewed drinks, hosiery, bricks, blocks and analogous articles of ceramics," the document said.

"The extension is a response measure to Latvia's decision to close the Silene automobile checkpoint on the border with Belarus," it said.

It was reported that Latvia closed one of its two existing border-crossings on the border with Belarus - Silene (Urbany on the Belarusian side) - from September 19 to stave off the threat of illegal migration.