Estonia has increased border checks in the town of Valga following a rise in the number of migrants entering the country illegally from neighbouring Latvia.
The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board has expanded inspections beyond the country’s eastern border to include the Latvian border, with officers checking people, vehicles and public transport.
Authorities detained 41 people last week after they allegedly entered Estonia illegally from Latvia. The increase in arrivals prompted more intensive checks in Valga, including at the local railway station.
Igor Bogdanov, head of the patrol service in Estonia’s southeastern police precinct, said the migration pressure was linked to Belarus. He said Somali nationals made up the largest group among those detained, followed by people from other East African countries, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Police officers have been checking trains arriving from Latvia, walking through carriages and examining passengers’ documents when necessary. Officers are also inspecting private vehicles and carrying out checks at other transport hubs.
Accommodation providers and transport companies have been informed that they should notify police if they encounter people or situations that raise concerns.
Estonian authorities said almost 200 foreign nationals without a legal basis to remain in the country had been detained since July. Most were reported to have entered Estonia from Belarus through Latvia, while 72 migrants have been returned to Latvia.
Estonian Interior Minister Igor Taro described the arrivals as waves of migration organised by another state, reflecting Estonia’s concerns about the use of migration pressure along the region’s borders.
The increase has also placed additional pressure on Estonia’s legal and administrative systems. The Tallinn Administrative Court must approve detention requests submitted by the Police and Border Guard Board, while child-protection officials in Rae municipality have faced difficulties dealing with the number of migrants who claim to be minors.
Estonia has also extended the rotation of border guards operating along the Latvia-Belarus border. The country has requested assistance from Finland with border patrols and procedures for returning migrants.
The latest measures come as Estonia and other Baltic states remain concerned about irregular migration routes linked to Belarus. Authorities are increasing cooperation and monitoring as they attempt to prevent migrants from using Latvia as a route into Estonia.