RIGA, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Latvian government on Tuesday extended its reinforced border protection measures along the Belarusian border until Dec. 31 to curb illegal migration.
The measure was initially implemented in March and set to expire on Sept. 12.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, the extension is necessary due to the high number of attempted illegal crossings from Belarus into Latvia.
The ministry stated that the reinforced controls are critical for maintaining border security in the municipalities bordering Belarus.
So far this year, Latvian authorities have prevented 4,210 individuals from illegally entering the country, while 16 migrants have been allowed to cross the border on humanitarian grounds.
In response to the challenge of illegal migrants, Lithuania has dispatched 10 officers to help Latvian border guards manage the daily influx of migrants attempting to enter Latvia from Belarus. ■