The Latvian government on Tuesday at a meeting approved the proposal of the Minister of Internal Affairs Maria Golubeva to introduce an emergency situation (ES) on the border with Belarus due to the influx of illegal migrants. This regime will be in effect until November 10.

“The decision of the government to introduce an emergency situation on the Latvian border has been made. The strengthening of border protection will take place immediately,” the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs said on her Twitter account .

As the local agency LETA reports with reference to the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers, the emergency regime will operate in the Ludza, Kraslava, Augshdaugava regions of the republic and in the second largest city of the country, Daugavpils. The State Border Guard Service is allowed to use physical force and special means to immediately return to Belarus persons who illegally crossed the state border of Latvia.

The government’s decision also stipulates that the National Armed Forces (NAF) and the State Police should assist the border guards in ensuring border control at the Latvian-Belarusian border in order to prevent its illegal crossing.

Latvia, following Lithuania, faced illegal migration from the territory of Belarus. In the last five days alone, 283 violators have been detained at the border, and in total since the beginning of the year – 343. The Latvian authorities have introduced increased control to guard the border and mobilized the resources of the border guard and the army. Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins last week announced his intention to accelerate the construction of infrastructure on the border with Belarus, and the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs proposed introducing an emergency regime in the border area in order to expand the ability of border guards to send migrants back to Belarus.