Latvia is proposing a ban on organised tourism to Russia and Belarus due to security concerns. Members of parliament in Riga have put forward legal amendments that, if approved, will prevent Latvian-registered travel agencies from offering tours on Russian and Belarusian soil.
The move comes amid increasing tensions between Latvia and its eastern and southern neighbours, who, it claims, have violated Latvian citizens’ rights and attempted to recruit them to work against their own country.
Over 30 Latvians arrested in 2024
Explaining the proposed tourism ban, Latvian parliamentarian Gatis Liepiņš said, “Travelling to Russia and Belarus is currently a security issue which causes problems for tourists and our services.” He noted that if problems occur while Latvians are across the border, it is difficult to provide them with consular support – a situation that affected several dozen people in 2024. “Last year, more than 30 Latvian nationals were arrested in Russia and Belarus, but in these countries, the ability of our institutions to help is very limited,” he said.
EU’s has agreed on the 16th sanctions package against Russia and Belarus. By introducing new import and export bans and further targeting Russia’s shadow fleet, we continue to exert maximum pressure in this crucial phase. Latvia worked very hard to achieve this. 🇱🇻🇪🇺… pic.twitter.com/zsbrWQPOLn
— Evika Siliņa 🇱🇻🇺🇦 (@EvikaSilina) February 19, 2025
What’s more, Russia and Belarus are accused of wanting to destabilise and occupy Latvia. Numerous states of emergency have been in place in border areas, where Belarus has allegedly organised infiltrations and attacks on border guards. “Travel to Russia and Belarus is currently a security issue,” Liepiņš said, continuing: “We cannot allow holiday trips to continue to be organized and buses full of our citizens to travel to countries that openly express a desire to occupy Latvia.”
Potential coercion and “geopolitical blackmail”
Latvian officials also believe their citizens are at risk of being coerced into working for Russian and Belarusian intelligence services. This echoes similar claims by Lithuania, to the south, which has said that tourism operators should not be allowed to “make a business out of a threat to national security.”
War is back in Europe, time to act is now. Start with massive defense investments in legacy AND disruptive tech. EU financial institutions cannot be allowed to sleepwalk us into bigger war – remove restriction on investments & lending to defense. We win – they lose🫡 pic.twitter.com/5n358L1Uyl
— Giedrimas Jeglinskas (@Giedrimasj) January 19, 2025
“The Belarusian special services decide whether you are interesting or not. You may think that you are just selling vegetables at the market, but again, the decision on how to use you, how to use this for geopolitical blackmail, will be made by the Belarusian special services,” Lithuania’s National Security and Defence chair, MP Giedrimas Jeglinskas, said in January 2025.
“Do Not Travel” warnings
Belarus has formerly been described as an “it destination” by Lonely Planet, with attractions ranging from nature reserves in the shadow of the ill-fated Chernobyl nuclear plant to centuries-old castles set in stunning parklands. However, like Russia, it is currently subject to a range of sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to Belarus and notes “a significant risk of arrest if you have at any time engaged in any activity now considered illegal by the Belarusian regime.”
BREAKING: The Lithuanian government is advising its citizens to leave Belarus immediately due to safety conditions, and proposes an airline ban over Belarus.
— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 24, 2021
More on this story: https://t.co/J9L9DrLtcX pic.twitter.com/D4Ze9XbGOg
Similarly, the US State Department rates Belarus at a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” status and urges U.S. citizens in Belarus to depart immediately,” This is due to what it calls “the Belarusian authorities’ arbitrary enforcement of local laws, the risk of detention, the continued facilitation of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the potential of civil unrest, and the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Belarus.”
