Latvia convenes National Security Council to discuss Belarusian border situation

Rinkēvičs wrote about this on Twitter.

"Today I convened a meeting of the National Security Council, on the agenda: the policy of punishment in the conditions of a hybrid war, the situation on the eastern border and the presence of the Wagner Group in Belarus," writes the president of Latvia.

Šodien esmu sasaucis Nacionālās drošības padomes sēdi, darba kārtībā sodu politika hibrīdkara apstākļos, situācija uz Austrumu robežas un Vagner grupas atrašanās Baltkrievijā

— Edgars Rinkēvičs (@edgarsrinkevics) August 17, 2023

Delfi reports that Rinkēvičs expressed dissatisfaction with the criminal policy against persons involved in the organization of illegal migration.

“People who assist in arranging illegal migration and support Lukashenko's government are essentially aiding the enemy. The punishment for this could be a 30-day arrest, but afterward, the person often resumes their previous activities. It seems ineffective to ask border guards, internal troops, and armed forces to secure the border when the courts and the prosecutor's office view things differently,” Latvian president said.

Rinkevichs also stressed the importance of addressing several issues at the border shared with Russia and Belarus. He explained that the eastern border has three parts: an unregulated section, a border with Russia established before 2019 to counter potential threats from Russia back then, and a border with Belarus equipped to discourage migrants but not suitable for more significant challenges.

The president highlighted the priority of enhancing Latvia's eastern border with sensors, video surveillance systems, as well as the construction of a deterrent fence.

Wagner soldiers in Belarus

After the mutiny of Wagner PMC leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in late June, the Kremlin announced the relocation of Wagner mercenaries to Belarus.

On June 27, self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko confirmed the arrival of Yevgeny Prigozhin in the country. According to him, Wagner mercenaries  who arrived with him will not guard the Russian tactical nuclear weapons deployed there. However, Lukashenko emphasized that he expects the mercenaries to help in the defense of Belarus, without specifying the potential source of the country's perceived threat.

On June 29, a satellite recorded the construction of a tent camp near Asipovichy in the Mogilev region of Belarus, and on July 3, Russian media published a photo of an alleged Wagner camp.

On July 11, the Belarusian Ministry of Defense stated that the Wagner mercenaries would train the Belarusian army.

On August 7, military exercises started in Belarus. The landfills are located next to the Suwałki Gap - the section between Poland and Lithuania, and Belarus and the Kaliningrad region of Russia.

On August 8, the Polish Minister of Defense granted the request of the border guard commander and ordered to strengthen the border with Belarus with additional soldiers. Poland will additionally send twice more troops to the border with Belarus than planned. On August 13, the Ministry of Defense announced that Poland would cover the border with Belarus with Apache helicopters and Abrams tanks.

Starting from August 15, Latvia will mobilize additional border guards to strengthen the border with Belarus against the background of the provoked migrant crisis and hybrid threats.