NBS: Armed men tried to bring at least 20 migrants across the Latvian-Belarusian border

ASTRA reported the incident, relaying a statement from the Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS). According to the NBS, armed masked men tried to bring a group of at least 20 illegal migrants into Latvia across the Latvian-Belarusian border.

The military said that those accompanying the migrants were armed, threatened the soldiers, and in a particularly demonstrative and aggressive manner urged the group to move toward Latvia. The NBS said that servicemen interrupted the border crossing attempt.

Several hours later, according to Latvian Interior Minister Janis Dombava, the same masked men entered the country’s territory. He claims they damaged an electrical distribution panel and stole two surveillance cameras.

After that, Dombava claims, they returned to Belarus before border guards arrived. The NBS said this case confirms that deliberate provocations and hybrid threats will continue at the Latvia-Belarus border.

According to the Latvian military, illegal migration is being used as a tool of pressure on Latvia’s external borders, as well as those of the European Union and NATO.