Two border crossing points along the Latvian-Russian border have been shut down by Latvian officials. Interior Minister of Latvia Rihards Kozlovskis has hailed the closure of the Vientui and Pededze border crossings as a success.

As a result of the closure, the night was tranquil, and those who had tried to enter the nation through these sites eventually left, according to Minister Kozlovskis. This, in his opinion, confirmed the possibility that keeping the Vientuli border crossing open may have led to a sizable gathering of persons who might have posed a threat to Latvia’s national security.

The interior minister additionally revealed that 129 people were prevented from crossing the border into Latvia from Belarus overnight as a result of the border restriction. For a few days, there had been a short drop in attempts to enter the border illegally, but recently there has been an increase in these attempts.

The Grebneva and Terehova border points are still open, Minister Kozlovskis clarified, and he addressed worries about potential Russian moves.

It’s also crucial to remember that Latvia has previously put entrance restrictions on people from Belarus and Russia. The initial September 19, 2022 prohibition on the majority of Russian nationals, which was set to expire on June 30, 2023, has been extended until March 2024. The continuous military action by Russia in Ukraine, which the Latvian government claims directly endangers Latvia’s security, was blamed for this prolongation. The Ministerial Cabinet consequently resolved to extend the ban on Russian admission until March 4, 2024.