Latvian President Convenes National Security Council Meeting Due to Wagner's Presence in Belarus

A National Security Council meeting has been convened to discuss the situation on the eastern border and the presence of the Wagner private military company in Belarus. This was announced by Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, according to RIA Novosti.

“Today I have convened a National Security Council meeting; the agenda includes the policy of sanctions in the context of hybrid warfare, the situation on the eastern border, and the presence of the Wagner group in Belarus,” Rinkēvičs wrote on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

It is noted that earlier the government had announced that Latvia would strengthen border control measures in areas bordering Belarus for a period of six months, starting from August 11, due to the increasing incidents of illegal crossings. The Latvian State Border Guard reported that due to the surge in illegal migration flows, additional mobilization of border guards is taking place, and personnel are being recalled from vacation.

Earlier, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda stated that the closure of the border with Belarus may be considered due to the presence of Wagner PMC, but only in coordination with Poland and Latvia.

At the end of July, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki expressed concerns that fighters from the Wagner group stationed in Belarus might begin to infiltrate Poland under the guise of illegal migrants. He announced that Poland has information that over 100 fighters from the Wagner group have moved toward the Suwalki Corridor near Grodno, Belarus. Morawiecki stated, “this is a step toward further hybrid attacks on Polish territory.”