Latvia: Latvian citizen reportedly detained in Belarus

A Latvian citizen may have been detained in neighbouring Belarus after going there by car, LETA reports. The Latvian consulate in Vitsyebsk has contacted the Belarusian authorities for information on the possible incident. Latvia’s Foreign Ministry pointed out that its ability to provide assistance to Latvian citizens in Belarus and Russia was very limited due to the lack of rule of law in those two countries. The ministry lamented that Latvian citizens continued to enter Belarus despite repeated calls not to do so because of the risks involved. According to the ministry, 13 Latvian citizens were detained in Belarus in 2022, another 15 in 2023, and 11 so far in 2024.