Is Lukashenka Preparing Provocation on the Border with Latvia?

Belarusian border guards have been armed with machine guns and sniper rifles.

Belarusian border guards on the border with Latvia have been spotted with more heavy weapons than before. They have machine guns and sniper rifles, says the head of the Border Guard Service, Guntis Pujāts. Reports delfi.lv concerning ReTV.

According to Guntis Pujāts, Belarusian border guards do not work as usual, and their heavy weapon is a signal to the EU and NATO.

It is unlikely that the weaponry will be used against refugees, said Jānis Sarts, head of the NATO Centre for Strategic Communication. "Lukashenko is a man in despair. These steps show a man who has nothing to lose at the international level. He is looking for ways to retain power. I think his goal is to find some levers on the EU to get a topic for easing sanctions and legitimizing his power," said Jānis Sarts.

Portal Sargs.lv also drew attention to the weapons of the Belarusian border guards - Dragunov sniper rifles (SVD) and light machine guns of the Kalashnikov system. He also writes that people in unmarked uniforms have been spotted on the Belarusian side. Whereas a month ago, a one-person patrol strolled along the border. Now, there are constant patrols, stationary checkpoints and various other activities.