Latvia reported no attempts to illegally cross the Belarus-Latvia border on Tuesday, March 11, 2026, as heightened border security measures remain in effect. The development comes amid ongoing regional concerns about potential instability and follows similar actions taken by neighboring Finland.
On March 18, 2025, the Latvian government decided to partially close remaining border crossings with Russia and Belarus, allowing passage only to vehicles. The affected border points are “Pāternieki” on the Latvia-Belarus border, and “Terehova” and “Grebņeva” on the Latvia-Russia border. This decision, effective March 19, 2025, aims to strengthen the country’s border protection system and improve the efficiency of border control.
The move builds on previous restrictions. The “Silene” border crossing on the Latvia-Belarus border was closed in 2023, and “Vientuļi” and “Pededze” on the Latvia-Russia border followed suit. These closures remain in effect.
According to officials, the decision to further restrict border access was prompted by Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and Belarus’s support of the conflict, which is viewed as a potential risk to Latvia’s border security. The Interior Ministry noted that recent trends observed in Latvia mirrored those that led Finland to close its border with Russia.
The partial closures were enacted after the State Border Guard identified potential attempts at illegal crossings on March 16, 2025, prompting a temporary closure of the Pāternieki border checkpoint. The Interior Ministry had been considering the partial closures for some time, following an analysis of the situation.
Latvia views the development of a democratic, economically stable, and legally sound Belarus as crucial for regional security and continues to support Belarusian civil society and independent media, according to the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The announcement could influence future diplomatic talks and regional security strategies.
