Latvian Border Guards Discover Radios and Documents from Belarusian Military Units in Illegal Migrants

The Armed Forces and the State Border Guard Service of Latvia have released evidence showing that the security forces of Belarus were involved in organizing illegal migration across Latvia’s state border.

This was stated in an official press release by the Latvian Ministry of Defence.

Specifically, several facts have been documented that point to coordinated actions, including the use of Belarusian military transport to move illegal migrants, as well as the involvement of officials in planning and organizing attempts to illegally cross the border.

One of the detained illegal migrants was found to have documents and communication devices belonging to a Belarusian military serviceman.

During the investigation, it was established that these items belonged to a serviceman of the reconnaissance battalion of the 19th Guards Mechanized Infantry Brigade, stationed in the Vitebsk region.

Among the confiscated materials was internal documentation from the military unit, including records of issued equipment.

Additionally, on the mobile devices of the detained illegal migrants, photos and videos were found featuring Belarusian border guards and the migrants themselves, including footage of their transportation by military vehicles.

The Latvian authorities have also documented cases where Belarusian border guards were directly involved in transporting migrants to locations from which they are then directed to cross the border illegally.

Additionally, it has been highlighted that illegal migrants are being used to gather intelligence and for other aspects of hybrid threats.

The Latvian National Armed Forces and the State Border Guard have regularly recorded instances of electronic warfare coming from Belarusian territory, which disrupt communication and navigation systems in the border area.

Latvian military officials caution that anyone who directly or indirectly helps with the infiltration, transportation, or placement of illegal border crossers is not only violating Latvian law but could also be used as a tool in operations organized by the intelligence services of hostile states.

The purpose of these actions is to conduct reconnaissance, sabotage, and other subversive activities in Latvia and other European countries.

It’s important to note that Belarus is continuing its campaign of launching air balloons carrying contraband into neighboring countries.