History

On November 18, 1918 the People's Council by proclaiming independence of the Republic of Latvia as well declared temporary newly established state border. For the purposes of its protection on 7 November, 1919 Jānis Balodis, Latvian Army Commander-in-Chief, issued an order to establish border guarding posts and to form border guard units. From 15 November, 1919 the real border guarding was started. The activities of border guards were based on the internal border guarding provisional regulations of the People's Council, issued on 5 December, 1918.

On 8 November, 1920 the Border Guarding was renamed to the Border Guard Division and it was charged with border guarding.

On 2 February, 1922 the Cabinet decided to disembody the Border Guard Division and to assign border guarding functions to the Ministry of the Interior. On 10 March of the same year the newly established Border Police took over the border guarding functions from the Border Guard Division.

In 1935 the Cabinet adopted a Law on State Border Guarding. Within the Ministry of the Interior on 6 April, 1935 a separate military unit was created - the Border Guard Brigade, Ludvigs Bolšteins was appointed its Commander. Till the occupation of Latvia in 1940 the Border Guard Brigade headed by General Ludvigs Bolštein was developed and became a consolidated and well organized separate military unit with strong discipline.

On 3 October, 1940 A.Noviks, People's Commissar of Latvian SSR, signed an order on disbandment of the Border Guard Brigade and discharge of border guards from their positions. On 10 October, 1940 the Border Guard Brigade of the Republic of Latvia was liquidated.

On 20 December, 1990 the Supreme Soviet adopted a Law on State Border, but the governing border did not carry out active activities for its realisation in order do not aggravate relations with USSR. On 7 November, 1991 the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Latvia confirmed the Regulations on the Order of Taking the Oath of Latvian Republic's Soldier. On 11 November, 1991 the first border guards of restored Latvian Republic took soldier's oath in Brāļu Kapi of Riga.

When Latvia reinstated its independence in 1991 the State border was renewed. The State border is determined by agreements entered into by the Republic of Latvia up to 16 June 1940, as well as subsequently entered into bilateral agreements regarding the renewal or determination of the border.

The restoration of guarding of border of the Republic of Latvia was started by organizing control points at roads and taking over functions from the soviet border guard military units in ports and airports, it was based on the Latvian Republic Council of Ministers' decision of 29 January, 1992 "On Ensuring Takeover and Guarding of the State Border of the Republic of Latvia".

By the order of Minister of Defense of the Republic of Latvia from 1 February, 1922 the Border Guard Brigade of Defense Forces of the Defense Ministry was established by uniting 7 border battalions, Riga's separate border control points and Vārve's Training Centre. With establishment of the Border Guard Brigade the organization of border guarding system was started - border marking on the nature, creation of material-technical base in order to insure the border control and life conditions of border guards, development of service regulation and rules.

On 1 September, 1992 the Border Guard Brigade of the Republic of Latvia undertook guarding of State border of the Republic of Latvia.

By the order of Defense Minister of 23 November, 1995 the Border Guard Forces were established within the structure of the National Armed Forces.

From 7 January, 1997 the Border Guarding Forces are existing under the subordination of the Ministry of the Interior and staff is employed to serve in the Ministry of the Interior.

From 14 February, 1997 the Border Guarding Forces were renamed the Border Guard of the Ministry of the Interior. Some changes followed and from 1 May, 1998 the Border Guard named the State Border Guard. The State Border Guard is a direct administration State institution, under the supervision of the Ministry of the Interior.

The State Border Guard service is rapidly developing. The technical equipment, mobility and training system are improved; state border infrastructure is developed and professional capacity of border guards increased.

The State Border Guard consists of: Central Board and 9 territorial boards. The border guards are trained in the State Border Guard College.