On October 5, Valsts robežsardze prevented 59 individuals from illegally crossing the

Valsts robežsardze prevents illegal crossings at Latvia-Belarus border

On October 5, Valsts robežsardze prevented 59 individuals from illegally crossing the Latvia-Belarus border. This marks the latest in a series of enforcement actions this year, with 11,925 people deterred from entering the country illegally since the start of the year.

Among the 29 individuals identified with legal violations, 17 were detected at external borders. At Terehovas and Grebņevas border control points, entry to Latvia was denied to one Russian and one Ukrainian national due to “security reasons.” These persons were returned to their countries of origin.

Case Studies of Visa Violations

At Terehovas, Grebņevas, and Riga Airport border checkpoints, individuals were found to have violated stay conditions in Schengen Zone countries. These included five Uzbekistan nationals, four Iranians, one Russian, one Serbian, and one Georgian. Many had expired visas, no valid travel documents, or overstayed their permitted time.

Two Iranian nationals avoided administrative penalties, while others faced legal consequences. At Riga Airport, a Latvian citizen attempting to leave for Cyprus was denied due to lack of valid travel documents.

Internal Enforcement and Administrative Penalties

Inside Latvia, three individuals were found to have violated immigration rules. These included a Russian, an Estonian, and a Vietnamese national. Meanwhile, nine people faced administrative action or were denied border crossing for violations in the field of operation of vehicles and vessels, including two Latvians, one each from Kazakhstan, Moldova, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Uzbekistan, and China.

How many people have been prevented from entering Latvia illegally this year?

How many people have been prevented from entering Latvia illegally this year?

As of October 5, Valsts robežsardze has deterred 11,925 individuals from illegally crossing the state border.

What are the most common visa violations reported?

Violations include lack of valid visas or residence permits, exceeding the stay period specified in the visa, and lack of a valid travel document.

Can travelers be denied entry for reasons other than visa issues?

Yes. Entry can be denied for “security reasons,” as seen with the Russian and Ukrainian nationals at Terehovas and Grebņevas checkpoints.