Latvia Confronts Migrant Influx Amidst Eastern Tensions
The army said five or more migrants threw logs at soldiers before retreating after tear gas and a warning shot.
- On Wednesday, Latvian soldiers used tear gas and fired a warning shot to stop five or more migrants attempting to cross from Belarus after the group threw logs at border officials.
- Latvia, along with Poland and Lithuania, has accused Belarus and Russia of orchestrating migrant flows from the Middle East and Africa, describing the situation as a "hybrid threat" aimed at destabilizing NATO's eastern flank.
- Migrant crossing attempts have doubled recently, Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs reported, stating the migration "is causing a concern for the society" and is "disrupting people."
- To manage the "serious situation," Kulbergs said the country has doubled the number of border guards, asserting authorities are "handling that very well" despite increased resource strain.
- The incident reflects an ongoing border crisis persisting since 2021, though Minsk and Moscow have repeatedly dismissed allegations they are deliberately using migration to destabilize the region.
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Latvia militarizes the border with Belarus. On Tuesday troops used tear gas there. EU neighbours come to help and arrest migrants
Latvian soldiers used tear gas and fired warning shots to stop migrants trying to enter the country from Belarus, the Latvian military said on Wednesday. Latvia, along with Poland and Lithuania, has long accused Belarus and Russia of orchestrating the influx of migrants from the Middle East and Africa in an attempt to destabilize countries on NATO's eastern flank. Both Minsk and Moscow deny the accusations.
Latvia Confronts Migrant Influx Amidst Eastern Tensions
Latvia is grappling with a rising number of migrants attempting to cross from Belarus, with Latvian soldiers recently using tear gas and warning shots to halt aggressive migrants. As tensions rise, Latvia accuses Belarus and Russia of coordinating the influx as a destabilization strategy, which both deny.
Latvia's military fired tear gas and warning shots to stop migrants trying to come from Belarus, it said, and the country's prime minister said citizens were worried about the growing influx.
The Straits Times
OODA LoopLatvian army uses tear gas, warning shot against migrants from Belarus
VILNIUS, July 22 - Latvian soldiers used tear gas and fired a warning shot to stop migrants trying to enter from Belarus, the army said on Wednesday, as the prime minister said Latvians were worried about a rising number of migrants trying to cross the border. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Belarus seems to be instrumentalising migration again, Latvia is calling for help. An expert is classifying the situation for the FR. Analysis.
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