The Latvian Parliamentary Committee for Defense, Interior and Prevention of Corruption has approved an initiative to expand the powers of border guards. Military personnel will be allowed to use firearms, physical force, special equipment, explosives and service dogs to protect protected facilities and border infrastructure. The committee also supported devolving powers to the Border Force to investigate possible crimes by their employees. The bill will have to go through several more stages of consideration. If it is adopted, the border guards will receive almost unlimited power in their area of responsibility. In recent years there has been a tense situation on the border of Latvia and Belarus due to illegal immigration. A few days ago, armed masked men tried to bring 20 immigrants into the territory of the European Union. Threats were made against the border guards. Later, another group damaged the switchboard and stole surveillance cameras. According to the Latvian side, immigrants and border violators did not enter the country. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that the provocation was carried out by Riga itself in order to receive money from the European Union to strengthen the border.