Five Latvian nationals were detained overnight by Russian authorities after inadvertently crossing the eastern border over lake ice.
After over a week of sub-zero temperatures, from Monday, Lake Peipus (Peipsi järv), which makes up much of Estonia’s eastern border, was almost fully open for fishing.
The smaller lakes of Lämmijärv and Pihkva are linked to the south of Peipsi, and permits to go out on the ice on these was issued earlier. Since December in the case of Lämmijärv.
It is here that the border violations occurred, as five Latvian nationals on the morning of January 11 strayed over into Russian Federation territory and were apprehended by Russian border guard hovercraft, Lõuna Postimees reported.
The process of handing them over to the Estonian side started at noon Monday, when Russian authorities permitted the Latvians to return to Estonia.
Read more: ERR.EE
