Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs has warned that staff shortages could undermine security on the country’s border with Belarus despite major investments in fences, sensors and surveillance systems. Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs has warned that staff shortages could undermine security on the country’s border with Belarus despite major investments in fences, sensors and surveillance systems. During a Monday visit near Piedruja, Rinkēvičs praised improvements to border infrastructure but said technology was ineffective without enough personnel to respond. State Border Guard chief Guntis Pujāts said the service needs 500 additional staff, although discussions currently focus on 200 vacancies. He said two guards sometimes have to detain groups of 20 people. Latvia says increased migration pressure from Belarus forms part of a hybrid operation directed from Minsk, as Latvia approaches its October parliamentary elections. Border guards prevented 182 people from crossing illegally from Friday through Sunday. Riga has also stepped up action against smuggling networks after a tunnel was discovered beneath the frontier. “Complaints should be addressed to Minsk and to those carrying out this hybrid operation against Latvia,” Rinkēvičs said.
