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RIGA, Nov 2 (LETA) - The government on Wednesday supported extending state of emergency in municipalities bordering Belarus until February 10, 2023.

As reported, considering the increased illegal immigration pressure from Belarus, the Latvian government in August 2021 declared a state of emergency in the municipalities of Ludza, Kraslava and Augsdaugava, as well as in Daugavpils. At present, the state of emergency there has been extended until November 10. The Interior Ministry has proposed that the government extend the state of emergency until February 10, 2023.

The Justice Ministry, however, did not support the proposal of the Interior Ministry. The Justice Ministry believes there is no legal ground to extend the state of emergency. The state of emergency has been in force for more than a year, but the purpose of the bill is not to allow the state of emergency to become permanent.

A year has been a sufficient period of time to introduce legislative amendments of the current legislation does not allow to ensure security of the state border and prevent illegal migration, the Justice Ministry said.

"We underscore repeatedly that the purpose of granting the state of emergency is to give a possibility for the Cabinet of Ministers to swiftly react to situations that pose threat to national security. At the same time, this does not free the responsible institutions from revising their functions, planning and ensuring readiness to such situations in the future," the ministry said.

Justice Minister Janis Bordans (Conservatives) said that Latvia's eastern neighbors might do anything and the migrants on the border can be a normal situation. Latvia should adapt legislation in order to ensure border protection instead for constantly extending the state of emergency.

Interior Minister Kristaps Eklons (Development/For) agreed that it is not a good practice to extend the state of emergency again and again, however, the situation forces for such decisions.

Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) said that the Justice Ministry's objections are understandable, therefore the next interior minister will be given the task to amend legislation so that the state of emergency should not be applied.

The Interior Ministry noted that since August 10, 2021, 7,562 people have been deterred from illegally crossing the border.