The State Security Service of Latvia (SSS) calls on citizens to refrain from traveling to Russia and Belarus over the Easter holidays due to high risks of intelligence activities, recruitment, and provocations.
This was reported by the outlet Grani.

The SSS of Latvia notes that any individual may become a target of the special services of Russia and Belarus, regardless of their profession or access to classified information. At the same time, the ability of Latvian institutions to assist their citizens who find themselves in difficult situations on the territory of these countries is limited.

The agency reports that “the special services of Russia and Belarus actively use the opportunity to interrogate and recruit foreigners on their territory, where they possess broad powers. Their officers will not hesitate to use aggressive and unlawful methods to coerce a person into cooperation.”

If travel to one of these countries is nevertheless necessary, the service recommends not taking a personal mobile phone, especially if it contains work-related or sensitive information. At border checkpoints, data from the phone may be copied, and the device itself may be infected with spyware. A safer option is considered to be the use of a phone with a prepaid SIM card that can be disposed of after the trip. It is also not recommended to take a computer or other data storage devices.

The SSS warns that the identification of potential recruitment targets may begin already at the border, where representatives of special services may pose as border guards or use other covers, including as law enforcement officers or employees of other institutions of Russia or Belarus. Moreover, important information may be obtained even during an ordinary conversation.

The service warns that intelligence officers may act aggressively, bring forward ultimatum-like accusations of administrative or criminal offenses, and attempt to induce cooperation in exchange for exemption from liability or facilitation of border crossing.