Latvia plans to shut down bus transportation to Belarus
Bus services from Latvia to Russia and Belarus are currently operational, but changes are on the horizon. The Ministry of Communications of Latvia's Transport Directorate has announced that it may not extend the licenses for regular passenger bus services to Belarus and Russia. The decision comes as part of a broader order issued by the Ministry of Transport of Latvia, which states that no extensions of license agreements for regular bus services from Latvia to Belarus and Russia will be granted. This move affects specific border crossings with Belarus and Russia, including 'Paterniki', 'Grigorovshchina', 'Ubyilinka', and 'Terekhovo' / 'Burachki'. Currently, four bus routes from Latvia are operated to Russia and three to Belarus. One of the routes to Belarus includes services to Minsk and Gomel, while the route to Russia remains unspecified. SIA Latlines operates regular services to Russia and Belarus, with services to Vitebsk until 31st January 2026, to Minsk until 26th February 2026, and to Gomel until 27th June 2026. If the Baltic countries do not reach a joint decision, passengers may use routes through Lithuania and Estonia. It is also worth noting that the ban on international irregular group transport by bus in Latvia does not affect the operation of minibuses with up to nine seats, which may be used as 'illegal segments' by passengers. The ban on international irregular group transport by bus in Latvia is scheduled to be in effect from October 2025 to October 2026. From 15th October 2025 to 14th October 2026, a ban will be in effect for carriers to perform international irregular group transport by bus when crossing the border with Russia and Belarus at the specified border crossings. The Transport Directorate of Latvia has stated that an external regulatory act is needed to halt regular bus services to Russia and Belarus. However, they have not yet mentioned any specific plans to extend or not extend the licenses for the existing bus routes to Russia and Belarus. In light of these developments, it is advisable for passengers planning to travel by bus from Latvia to Russia and Belarus to keep a close eye on updates from the Transport Directorate of Latvia and the Ministry of Communications of Latvia's Transport Directorate.
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