Currently, border violators who are attempting to cross the border in Poland, Latvia, and partly in Lithuania are “men in their prime”, Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis (New Unity) said in an interview with Latvian Television on 23 October.
Kozlovskis pointed out that initially, it was mainly women with children who attempted to cross the border, but now the profile of border violators has changed significantly.
The minister said that such circumstances pose risks, for example, in Poland, where the situation has already escalated to the death of border guards.
Latvia has not yet had to use firearms, but border guards are now patrolling with safer equipment than a year ago. The minister acknowledged that acts of sabotage and other security risks are also on the rise.
“This is the inevitable reality in which we live,” said Kozlovskis, adding that public participation is particularly important in such a situation.
He called on residents to report any suspicious activity, especially in cases where individuals are observed taking an interest in or photographing objects that could be classified as critical infrastructure.
Kozlovskis said that the security situation is likely to become even more challenging in the near future.
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