Latvia’s parliament has enacted sweeping legislation prohibiting civil servants, parliamentarians, and select state officials from traveling to Russia and Belarus, citing national security risks tied to espionage and hostile influence campaigns. The decision, passed in a third reading on June 12, targets individuals with access to state secrets, personnel from the Ministries of Defense, Internal Affairs, Justice, tax and customs enforcement, diplomats, prosecutors, and judicial staff.
The measure also extends to transit through Russian and Belarusian territory. Any violation may result in dismissal, reinforcing the government’s determination to deny adversarial powers access to sensitive information or channels of influence . Ainars Latkovskis, chair of Latvia’s National Security Commission, emphasized that espionage threats from Moscow and Minsk have intensified, and frequent travel by officials to those countries exposes them to “recruitment or coercion”.
Latvia follows a broad trend among EU nations to isolate authoritarian regimes. This move builds upon prior actions: the Baltic state banned Belarusian-registered vehicles in July 2024 and extended Russian visa restrictions through March 2025. Latvia has previously imposed entry bans on pro-Kremlin figures and labeled Russia a state sponsor of terrorism.
The ban applies to a comprehensive list of officials engaged in national security, diplomacy, law enforcement, and judicial work. Travel to Russia or Belarus—whether official missions or private trips—is now forbidden, and transiting through those countries is also banned.
Riga’s authorities warn that employees defying the ban may face termination. The Foreign Ministry and security services have flagged increasing numbers of civil servants traveling to Russia and Belarus, despite earlier advisories against such journeys.
Latvia’s actions follow similar measures across Estonia and Lithuania, where travel restrictions have been tied to intelligence threats and covert sabotage attributed to Russian and Belarusian operatives . In February 2025, Riga also moved to prohibit travel agencies from offering tour services to those countries, citing risks to citizen safety and espionage exposure.
Critics say the policy poses significant challenges for diplomatic engagement, EU cohesion, and judicial independence, particularly for prosecutors or judges who may need to engage regionally. Yet, legislation supporters argue the risk of intelligence compromise outweighs these concerns.
As a NATO and EU member sharing lengthy borders with both nations, Latvia’s decision is seen as a strategic move to fortify frontline defenses against hybrid threats. It sends a signal to allied nations that Baltic states remain vigilant and proactive in response to growing subversive activity from authoritarian neighbors.
