Meeting with the UNHCR Representation for the Nordic and Baltic Countries

On Monday, February 27, Ms. Ineta Piļane, the Deputy Ombudsman and the Head of the Civil and Political Law Department, , and Ms. Santa Tivaņenkova, the legal advisor of the department, met with the representatives of the United Nations (UN) Refugee Agency Representation for the Nordic and Baltic countries – assistant protection specialist Ričardas Merkis and community-based protection specialist Takashi Mori.

The purpose of the meeting was to exchange information on current events related to recipients of international protection in Latvia, including cooperation with the responsible services, as well as non-governmental organizations.

Participants discussed the monitoring visits to the external borders of the European Union, paying special attention to the situation on the Latvian-Belarusian border and the conditions in the centers for detained foreigners. The parties agreed on regular mutual exchange of information.

The Ombudsman has previously indicated that during an emergency situation at the border, the individual situation must be assessed, paying special attention to cases where an unaccompanied minor or a representative of another vulnerable group has entered the country.