Latvian troops stopped at least 20 migrants attempting to cross from Belarus this week after armed, masked escorts threatened soldiers and pushed the group towards the frontier, officials said. Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava said the escorts remained on the Belarusian side during the attempt. Several hours later, masked intruders entered Latvia, damaged an electrical distribution cabinet and stole two surveillance cameras before escaping back into Belarus. Latvia’s military described the incident as a particularly demonstrative and aggressive provocation. Dombrava warned that such incidents could have “serious consequences” for Minsk. Latvia, an EU and NATO member, has accused Belarus of using migration to pressure its borders since 2021. In late July, Latvia temporarily closed its border with Belarus as crossing attempts surged. Border Guard chief Guntis Pujāts said the intruders might have been members of organized crime rather than Belarusian state agencies. Authorities said they were working to restore the damaged surveillance equipment.
