Latvian officials say Russian and Belarusian intelligence are funneling migrants into NATO states

Latvian officials announced on October 5, 2026 that Russian and Belarusian intelligence services were running a scheme to illegally funnel migrants from the Middle East and Africa across Latvia’s border into NATO and European Union member states.

The revelation comes as Riga grapples with a surge of arrivals that has strained its immigration system and sparked fears that the influx is being weaponized to exert political pressure on the West. Authorities said the operation is intended to create discord ahead of Latvia’s parliamentary elections and to sway public opinion toward parties perceived as more tolerant of Russian influence.

Officials reported that more than 11,000 migrants were turned away this year – a figure unprecedented for a Baltic nation of under two million residents. The high volume of arrivals has overwhelmed border checkpoints and prompted a rapid expansion of security measures.

In addition to overwhelming numbers, the scheme has targeted Latvia’s physical border defenses. Security forces observed migrants cutting gaps in an extensive fence and, in recent weeks, burrowing underneath it. Latvian officials described the damage as part of a “targeted campaign” aimed at exposing weaknesses in the nation’s border infrastructure.

“The Russian and Belarusian intelligence services are facilitating an elaborate scheme to illegally funnel migrants from the Middle East and Africa across the border into Latvia and other NATO and European Union countries,” a senior Latvian official said.

According to the report, criminal gangs operating in Russia welcome African and Middle Eastern migrants, then direct them toward border zones where they can be used to create instability in countries that support Ukraine. The gangs allegedly coordinate the movements, exploiting the migrants’ vulnerability for geopolitical purposes.

Latvian authorities contend that Moscow’s objective is to stir up tensions in a country where immigration is a highly contentious political issue. By amplifying the migrant flow before the parliamentary vote scheduled for Saturday, the intelligence services aim to pressure the electorate and potentially boost the prospects of lawmakers who are more sympathetic to Russian interests.

The episode fits a broader pattern described by analysts as “migration as a weapon,” where hostile actors manipulate human mobility to achieve strategic goals. The Latvian case underscores how migration flows can be co‑opted to serve foreign policy objectives, complicating the response of NATO members tasked with protecting open borders while upholding humanitarian standards.

Latvia has pledged to reinforce its border barriers and increase surveillance in the coming weeks, while also coordinating with EU partners to address the security dimensions of irregular migration. Officials said they will monitor the situation closely as the election approaches, warning that further attempts to exploit migration could jeopardize regional stability.