Robokopas

NEW: 🇱🇻 According to a new investigation by Latvian broadcaster LTV, Belarusian border guards are forcing migrants to sabotage Latvia’s border infrastructure if they cannot pay smugglers for illegal passage into the European Union. Those who refuse face physical violence or torture. Migrants waiting in camps on the Belarusian side of the border are reportedly visited by uniformed personnel who check whether they have paid for their journey. Those who have not paid are sent into Latvia carrying metal saws and given precise instructions on what to damage, including surveillance cameras and electrical equipment. After carrying out the sabotage, they return to Belarus. Latvian prosecutors say there are reasonable grounds to suspect that Belarusian border guard officials are involved in organising illegal migration and damaging infrastructure to facilitate criminal activity. Investigators believe migrants seeking to reach the EU could not have organised this operation themselves. The scale of the problem is growing. Latvia has recorded more than 60 cases of border infrastructure damage this year, compared with 23 last year. More than 12,000 illegal border-crossing attempts have been prevented. Border guards have also faced stone-throwing incidents, threats and confrontations involving people helping migrants cross the border. The smuggling route reportedly costs around $5,000 per person, often paid in cryptocurrency. Migrants travel through Russia to camps near the Belarusian border, where some wait for days or even months for an opportunity to cross into the EU. Latvia has deployed between 100 and 200 soldiers daily to support border protection, while investigators are cooperating with Europol. Prosecutors have launched criminal proceedings over suspected plans to commit serious crimes against the Latvian state.