Latvia Reopens Pāternieki Border Crossing with Belarus

On 5 August, the Pāternieki checkpoint on the Latvian‑Belarusian frontier resumed operations after being closed since 31 July because of technical problems with the border‑control information system. The State Border Guard announced that motorists with reservations can again cross both ways, and the online reservation system is accepting new bookings.

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said the government had considered suspending the crossing to curb illegal migration but kept it open, stressing security as the priority. The crossing is the only road link between the two countries and a key EU external border, affecting trade routes that connect the European Union with China and Central Asia. Belarus previously warned of retaliatory measures over the closure, which had been linked to migration pressures ahead of Latvia’s parliamentary elections in October.