Latvia proposes emergency status for eastern border regions

Latvia’s Ministry of Climate and Energy has submitted a draft order to declare an emergency situation along the country’s eastern border. The proposal cites threats from the escalation of Russian military activities as the primary justification.

The measure aims to address increasing sightings of unmanned aerial vehicles and other unidentified objects in Latvian airspace or near the border, which pose potential risks to public safety, health, and the operation of critical infrastructure. The proposed emergency period would last until December 1 of this year.

The declaration would cover several regions, including Alūksne, Augšdaugava, Balvi, Daugavpils, Krāslava, Līvāni, Ludza, Preiļi, and Rēzekne. To ensure the continuity of essential services, the draft includes provisions for the health, energy, and water management sectors. This includes legal frameworks to allow for flexible working hours and overtime for infrastructure workers, as well as more adaptable medical service organization and remote sick leave processing in the health sector.

Coordination of the emergency response would involve the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Climate and Energy.