Latvia has declared a state of emergency at the border, in the wake of the migrants crossing the border tolerated by Belarus. The police can now support the army there and forcefully refuse the passengers.

Latvia has declared a state of emergency in some parts of the country because of hundreds of migrants at the border with Belarus. It is valid until November 10 for several regions in the southeast and south of the country near Belarus.

The state of emergency means that “the border between Latvia and Belarus will be closed to practically everyone,” Latvian Prime Minister Krysjanis Karins said. In the event of an emergency, security forces may in some cases use physical force to push back migrants. Border officials are also not required to accept asylum applications from migrants during a state of emergency.

EU considering further sanctions against Belarus

Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko has openly threatened in the past to allow people from countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan or Syria to cross the border in response to EU sanctions imposed on his country. There were many illegal border crossings, especially in Lithuania, where the government had already declared a state of emergency in order to be able to respond more quickly.

According to the BNS agency, 283 people have been arrested for illegally crossing the border in Latvia alone in the past four days. In total there were over 340 in the past few months. The EU is considering further sanctions against Lukashenko – also because the ruler is exploiting migrants for political purposes.