Estonia tightens border controls with Latvia due to migrants

TALLINN - Due to the influx of illegal immigrants, the Estonian Police and Border Guard Department is stepping up controls along the border with Latvia.

Since 41 people were detained last week after illegally entering Estonia across the border with Latvia, checks on people and vehicles arriving from Latvia are being conducted more frequently at the Estonian-Latvian border, according to Estonian public television ETV.

"This is a matter of migration pressure, possibly caused by Belarus; however, when it comes to the countries of origin of these immigrants, we most often detain Somali citizens, followed by nationals from other East African countries, such as Ethiopia, as well as those from more distant countries - India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. In fact, there are a great many such countries of origin," Igor Bogdanov, head of the patrol service at the Southeast Division of Estonia's Police and Border Guard Department, told ETV.