Latvia will partially close three border crossings with Russia and Belarus, allowing only motor vehicles to cross, the government reported on Tuesday, citing growing number of refugees at the border.
The restricted checkpoints are Terehova and Grebneva checkpoints on the Russian border, and the Paternieki crossing with Belarus. The partial restriction will enter forces as of March 19.
“The decision to restrict the operations of these border checkpoints has been taken according to the risks of hybrid threats and migration crises,” the government said in a statement. It blamed “strategies implemented by Russia and Belarus aimed at organizing migration flows detrimental to EU member states” for the heightened border traffic.
Along with Finland and Poland, Latvia, has accused Russia and Belarus of intentionally orchestrating an influx of refugees to destabilize the region.
In a government meeting on Tuesday, Latvia’s Minister of Interior Rihards Kozlovskis reminded that Finland had earlier closed its border with Russia due to migration crisis created by Russia and Belarus. He also highlighted the problem of increased number of migrants trying to enter Latvia illegally.
Latvia has already built a fence along its border with Belarus and plans to complete a similar barrier along the Russian border this year.
