Riga, Jan 5 (LETA) - Last year, border guards prevented 12,046 persons from illegally crossing Latvia-Belarus border, LETA learned from the State Border Guard.

Three people attempted to illegally enter Latvia from Belarus on December 30, while no attempts were detected during the first days of January, the State Border Guard reported.

Meanwhile, 31 persons were let into the country on humanitarian grounds last year.

In 2024, 5,388 people were stopped from crossing the border illegally and 26 were admitted on humanitarian grounds.

The government has extended the reinforced surveillance regime along Latvia's border with Belarus until June 30, 2026.

The reinforced border security regime is in force in Ludza and the parishes of Ludza municipality, Kraslava and the parishes of Kraslava municipality, Augsdaugava municipality, Daugavpils and the Kaunata parish in Rezekne municipality.

Latvian authorities consider attempts by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko's regime to push migrants across Latvian, Lithuanian and Polish borders to be methods of hybrid warfare targeting these countries.