Latvia Once Again Calls On Its Citizens Not To Travel To Belarus

The State Security Service of Latvia made a statement.

The State Security Service calls on residents of Latvia not to travel to Russia and Belarus over the upcoming Easter weekend, reminding them of the high risks of intelligence and recruitment on the territory of these countries, writes Delfi.

The State Security Service noted that the activities of the intelligence services of Russia and Belarus have become more aggressive: “In attempts to obtain intelligence information about members of NATO and the European Union, including Latvia, they are using all available means.”

They noted that in the current conditions, the ability of the Russian and Belarusian special services to obtain intelligence information in Latvia itself is limited, so the special services are trying to recruit residents of Latvia on the territory of their countries, using threats, blackmail and other illegal methods.

“The first attempt often takes place at a border control point, where intelligence officials pose as border guards or employees of other agencies. Representatives of the intelligence services of Russia and Belarus can obtain information that is important to them even in a seemingly ordinary conversation,” the State Security Service reported.

The Latvian department strongly recommends that Latvian residents do not travel to Russia and Belarus during the upcoming holidays. If a trip is still necessary, the State Security Service recommends not taking a mobile phone, especially if it contains work or confidential information. At a border checkpoint, data may be removed from a mobile phone and it may be infected with spyware. A safer choice is a cell phone with a prepaid card that you can dispose of after your trip. Please do not take your computer, flash drives or other storage media with you either.