Further development of Immigration Liaison Officers Point of the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, and the Republic of Estonia in Russia

Implementation of the project "Further development of Immigration Liaison Officers Point of the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, and the Republic of Estonia in Russia" on 28^th January, 2013

In January 2013 Lieutenant-Colonel Raimonds Deičmanis, the Liaison Officer of the State Border Guard of Latvia, was sent to Moscow, Russia to perform his official duties. He will perfume his duties in Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian interests.

It is planned, that the Liaison Officer of the State Border Guard of Latvia will perform his duties in Russia from January 2013 till June 2014, according to the project No HOME/2011/EBFX/CA/2006 „Further development of Immigration Liaison Officers Point of the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, and the Republic of Estonia in Russia" of the External Border Fund under the Programme "Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows (2007 - 2013)" of the European Commission.

The goals of the Liaison Officer Point in Russia is strengthening border control on European Union external borders and expand effective migration stream management according to requirements of the Schengen acquis. Furthermore, according to the triangular memorandum Latvian immigration Liaison Officer perfume his duties in Lithuanian and Estonian interests, what is the statement of best practise.

Liaison officer of the State Border Guard will promote transborder cooperation and enlargement of professional contacts between law enforcement agencies of the European Union Member States and 3rd countries, thus reducing transborder illegal activities

Liaison officer of the State Border Guard Lieutenant-Colonel Raimonds Deičmanis has already been deployed in Russia in 2010 and 2011, while performing tasks of the Immigration Liaison Officer in the framework of project JLS/2008/EBFX/CA/1002 "Establishing of the Immigration Liaison Officer Point of the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Estonia in Russia".

The project is coo financed by the European Union

Contact person: Sandis Panga

E-mail: Sandis.Panga@rs.gov.lv

Tel.: 67075754

Fax: 67075756

Date of publication: 28.01.2013.

Implementation of the project "Further development of Immigration Liaison Officers Point of the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, and the Republic of Estonia in Russia" on 28^th April, 2013

On the 24 of April 2013 in the Embassy of Republic of Latvia in the Russian Federation, Moscow was organized Meeting of Immigration Liaison Officers.

Meeting was attended by the Immigration Liaison Officers from Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Bulgaria and Latvia, accredited to Russian Federation. Russian Federal Migration Service officials were also invited - three officials, leader of the delegation - Mr Ivans Krisjuks, assistant of the head of the Federal Migration Service.

The main topics of the meeting related to readmission and its challenges, cooperation between the authorities of European Union countries and Russian Federation. Best practices of cooperation with third countries have been discussed during the meeting. During the meeting, issues related to the return of nationals of the 3rd countries were also discussed, as well as legislation and best practices of the countries of the European Union and Schengen.

Representatives of the Federal Migration Service were interested to get more information regarding the legislation of the European Union and Schengen counties. Immigration Liaison Officers who participated in the meeting submitted prepared information about national legislation concerning immigration issues -Immigration Liaison Officer of the State Border Guard prepared summary of the following normative acts: Immigration Law, Assylum Law, and Regulations Regarding Forced Removal of Third-country Nationals, Departure Document and the Issue Thereof.

The project is coo financed by the European Union

Contact person: Sandis Panga

E-mail: Sandis.Panga@rs.gov.lv

Tel.: 67075754

Fax: 67075756

Date of publication: 28.04.2013.

Implementation of the project "Further development of Immigration Liaison Officers Point of the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, and the Republic of Estonia in Russia" on 3^rd June, 2013
 

Meeting with airline representatives in Latvian Embassy - 03.06.2013.

On the 3 of June 2013 in the Embassy of Republic of Latvia in the Russian Federation, Moscow Lieutenant-Colonel Raimonds Deičmanis, Liaison Officer (on immigration issues) of the International Cooperation and Protocol Unit of the Administrative Board of the Central Board of the State Border Guard to Russian Federation organized meeting with the representatives of air carriers.

The officials of the air carries and its legal representatives, responsible for the document checks in the airport, Moscow airports employees - in total 16 persons, and Head of Consular Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia to the Russian Federation Mr. Uldis Simsons attended the meeting.

Issues concerned border crossing, residence in the Schengen area, latest trends in travel document fraud and impostors were discussed. Participants of the meeting got acquainted with the description of false travel document and given a presentation prepared by the Expertise Service of the Central Board of the State Border Guard of Latvia. Raimonds Deičmanis answered on preprepared questions by the participants of the meeting about issues related to travel documents, border crossing, visas, residence permits, transit, enter the Schengen area, etc..

Participants of the meeting expressed an interest in participating in other activities organized by the Immigration Liaison officer in Russia.

The project is coo financed by the European Union

Contact person: Sandis Panga

E-mail: Sandis.Panga@rs.gov.lv

Tel.: 67075754

Fax: 67075756

Date of publication: 03.06.2013.

Implementation of the project "Further development of Immigration Liaison Officers Point of the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, and the Republic of Estonia in Russia" on 12^th July, 2013

Annual business trip of liaison officers

On 11 - 15 of June 2013 annual business trip of accredited law enforcement representatives / liaison officers in Russian Federation to Republic of Poland and the Russian Federation (Kaliningrad region) was organized.

During business trip following meetings were organized:

• Meeting with the Border Guard officials of the Border Guard Training Centre in Ketrzyn, Republic of Poland;

• Meeting with officials (Border Guard, Custom, Police) who fulfil duties in Bezledy Boder Control Point on Polish - Russian border;

• Meeting with the officials of Russian Border Guard Service of the Federal Security Service, Ministry of Interior and the Federal Investigation Committee in Kaliningrad city and in Bagrationovsk Boder Control Point on Polish - Russian border;

• as well as during the business trip delegation of liaison officers visited Visa center of the Republic of Poland in Kaliningrad.

Aim of the visit - meet with the representatives of the law enforcement agencies and other public authorities in the country.

Main topic of the visit - local border traffic between the Republic of Poland and the Russian Federation (Kaliningrad region)

Annual business trip was organized by the community of accredited in Russian Federation foreign law enforcement representatives / liaison officers (FLOC). Initiators of the visit to border between Poland and Russia were Immigration Liaison Officers of Poland and Austria. FLOC community consists of officials of following public authorities: Border Guard, Police, Customs and Immigration Service.
Immigration Liaison Officers of Poland and Latvia resolved issues related to the organization of meeting with representatives of public authorities of both countries.

Annual business trips are organized once in a year. In last years community of liaison officers visited following Russian regions and cities: Sochi, Astrakhan region, Arkhangelsk region and Vladivostok region.

At least six months before the visit community of accredited in Russian Federation foreign law enforcement representatives / liaison officers jointly, bearing in mind actual situation in the concrete region, competence and tasks of each participant and other important issues choose the region in Russia in which to go.

At this moment the region of Russia in which to go has not been selected yet, but probably it would be Buryatia and the border of Russian Federation with Mongolia.

The project is coo financed by the European Union

Contact person: Sandis Panga

E-mail: Sandis.Panga@rs.gov.lv

Tel.: 67075754

Fax: 67075756

Date of publication: 12.07.2013.

Implementation of the project "Further development of Immigration Liaison Officers Point of the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, and the Republic of Estonia in Russia" on 28^th September, 2013

Reporting meeting of Immigration Liaison Officer in Russia

On 24 of September of 2013 Liaison Officer of the State Border Guard of Latvia lieutenant-colonel Raimonds Deičmanis in the framework of the Project No HOME/2011/EBFX/CA/2006 „Further development of Immigration Liaison Officers Point of the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, and the Republic of Estonia in Russia" of the External Border Fund under the Programme "Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows (2007 - 2013)" of the European Commission organized a Reporting meeting of Immigration Liaison Officer in Russia.

Reporting meeting was organized in the venue of the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in the Russian Federation.

In accordance to the Memorandum of Understanding among the State Border Guard of the Republic of Latvia, the Police and Border Guard Board of the Republic of Estonia, and the State Border Guard Service at the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania on the activity of the Liaison Officer Point in Russia the Liaison officer in Russia represents interests of 3 institutions. In the meeting participated officers of the mentioned above institutions. Latvian party was lead by chief of the Central Board of the State Border Guard of Latvia General Ivars Zālītis, Lithuanian party by Colonel Antanas Montvydas, Deputy Chief of the State Border Guard Service at the Ministry of the Interior and Estonian party by Inge Lindsaar, chief of the Intelligence bureau of the Police and Border Guard Board of Republic of Estonia. The meeting was attended by the Consular staff of the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia, official representatives of the Latvian State agencies in Russia, representatives of the Russian Federal Migration Service and Immigration liaison officers of the EU/Schengen countries accredited in Russia.

Meeting was opened by the Astra Kurme, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to the Russian Federation, In her speech Astra Kurme expressed her gratitude to the activities of the Immigration liaison Officers which are turned on cooperation with aim to prevent transborder crime.

Afterwards Raimonds Deičmanis presented activities of the Immigration Liasion Officer in Russia in first 9 months of the 2013. Raimonds Deičmanis acquainted participants of the meeting with the situation on the borders of the Republic of Latvia in 2012 and in first 7 months of 2013. Second part of his presentation was related to the activities of the Liaison Officer - in it he informed participants about the legal background of the Immigration Liaison Officer point in Russia, main carried out activities during the deployment period, quantity of alerts and information what was being sent to Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian Border Guarding Services with aim to fight against transborder crime, cooperation with the law enforcement bodies of Russia, about Cooperation Groups of the accredited Liaison Officers in Russia and other activities fulfilled by Raimonds Deičmanis.

In next presentation Lithuanian delegation presented information about the State Border Guard Service at the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Latvia and the results of the carried out main activities. Estonian delegation presented information about the situation on the borders of the Republic of Estonia in 2013. Ivan Krysiuk, assistant of the Chief of the Federal Migration Service of Russia presented information about situation with illegal migration in Russia. In last presentation delegation of the State Border Guard of Latvia presented information about the cooperation with the Russian Federal migration service and Border Guard Service of the Federal Security Service of Russia.

The project is coo financed by the European Union

Contact person: Sandis Panga

E-mail: Sandis.Panga@rs.gov.lv

Tel.: 67075754

Fax: 67075756

Date of publication: 28.09.2013.

Implementation of the project "Further development of Immigration Liaison Officers Point of the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, and the Republic of Estonia in Russia" on 10^th December, 2013

Participation in the Reporting Meeting of Immigration Liaison Officer in Ukraine and Moldova

On 4-6 of December of 2013 Liaison Officer of the State Border Guard of Latvia lieutenant-colonel Raimonds Deičmanis in the framework of the Project No HOME/2011/EBFX/CA/2006 „Further development of Immigration Liaison Officers Point of the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, and the Republic of Estonia in Russia" of the External Border Fund under the Programme "Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows (2007 - 2013)" of the European Commission participated in the Reporting meeting of Immigration Liaison Officer of the Police and Border Guard Board of the Republic of Estonia in Ukraine and Moldova. In the framework or the Project Police and Border Guard Board of the Republic of Estonia in January 2013 send to Ukraine Immigration Liaison Officer.

According to the Memorandum of Understanding among the Police and Border Guard Board of the Republic of Estonia, the State Border Guard of the Republic of Latvia, the State Border Guard Service at the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania and the Finnish Border Guard on the Activity of the Liaison Officer Point in Ukraine and Moldova Immigration Liaison Officer represents interests of 4 institutions.

Reporting meeting was organized in the venue of the Embassy of the Republic of Estonia in Ukraine. Meeting was attended by the representatives of all the mentioned above institutions, cooperation partners in Ukraine as well as staff of the Embassy of Republic of Estonia in Ukraine.

During the meeting Immigration Liaison Officer of Police and Border Guard Board of the Republic of Estonia to Ukraine and Moldova presented his activities: key tasks, cooperation questions, consular issues and about international organizations in Ukraine and Moldova.

In next presentations Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Finnish and Ukrainian officials of the Border Guard Authorities presented information about their organizations and results.

The project is implemented in the framework of the External Border Fund under the Programme "Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows (2007 - 2013)" of the European Commission.

The project is coo financed by the European Union

Contact person: Sandis Panga

E-mail: Sandis.Panga@rs.gov.lv

Tel.: 67075754

Fax: 67075756

Date of publication: 10.12.2013.

Implementation of the project "Further development of Immigration Liaison Officers Point of the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, and the Republic of Estonia in Russia" on 16^th December, 2013

Activities of the Immigration Liaison Officer in Russia in November

In November 2013 Liaison Officer of the State Border Guard of Latvia Lieutenant colonel Raimonds Deičmanis according to the authorization from the State Border Guard participated in the several international meetings and conferences, as well as in the framework of the Project No HOME/2011/EBFX/CA/2006 „Further development of Immigration Liaison Officers Point of the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, and the Republic of Estonia in Russia" of the External Border Fund under the Programme "Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows (2007 - 2013)" of the European Commission organized a Reporting meeting of Immigration Liaison Officer in Russia in the venue of the State Border Guard of Latvia in Riga, Latvia.

• II meeting of Latvian - Russian working group on the border crossing places. Meeting was organized in the St. Petersburg, Russia, on 11-13 of November 2013. Leader of the Latvian delegation was Acting State Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and leader of the Russian delegation deputy head of Russian Federal Agency "Rosgranitsa". The officials of the Customs of the both countries attended meeting.

• Meeting of the chiefs of Migration services of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. Meeting was organized in Minsk, Belarus on 15 of November 2013.
  Chiefs and deputies of the Migration Agencies of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Moldova, Russia and Tajikistan, representatives of the Eurasian Economic Commission, Counter-Terrorism Centre of CIS and the International Migration policy Development center met in Minsk. Meeting was organized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus and the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation. Questions related to the migration issues in the CIS member states, cooperation, asylum and refugee, training, cooperation with national Diasporas and other question were discussed during the meeting.

• VI meeting of Latvian - Russian Intergovernmental Commission. Meeting took place in Moscow on 21 of November 2013.
  During the meeting Chief of the State Border Guard of Latvia signed (authorized by the Government of the Republic of Latvia) the Agreement between Government of Republic of Latvia and Government of the Russian Federation on the Latvian - Russian border crossing points. From the Russian side agreement was signed by the deputy head of Russian Federal Agency "Rosgranitsa".

• Reporting meeting of Immigration Liaison officer in Russia. Reporting meeting was organized in the venue of the Central Board of the State Border Guard on 19 of November 2013. Chief of the State Border Guard, Chief of the Central Board of the State Border Guard, Chiefs of the Boards of the Central Board of the State Border Guard attended the meeting, Chiefs of the Territorial Boards of the State Border Guard in video online conference regime.
  Meeting was organized with aim to get acquainted with the activities of the liaison officer in Russia in 2013, planned activities for 2014, cooperation with the officials of the Embassy of Latvia in Russia and representatives of the Russian Public agencies.

The project is implemented in the framework of the External Border Fund under the Programme "Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows (2007 - 2013)" of the European Commission.

The project is coo financed by the European Union

Contact person: Sandis Panga

E-mail: Sandis.Panga@rs.gov.lv

Tel.: 67075754

Fax: 67075756

Date of publication: 16.12.2013.

Implementation of the project "Further development of Immigration Liaison Officers Point of the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, and the Republic of Estonia in Russia" on 25^th February, 2014

Results of the Immigration Liaison Officers Point of the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, and the Republic of Estonia in Russia in 2013

In January 2013 Immigration Liaison Officer of the State Border Guard Lieutenant-Colonel Raimonds Deičmanis according to the project No HOME/2011/EBFX/CA/2006 „Further development of Immigration Liaison Officers Point of the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, and the Republic of Estonia in Russia" of the External Border Fund under the Programme "Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows (2007 - 2013)" of the European Commission and Grant Agreement between European Commission and the State Border Guard of the Republic of Latvia on European Commission financial support for the Project No. HOME/2011/EBFX/CA/2006 „Further development of Immigration Liaison Officers Point of the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, and the Republic of Estonia in Russia" was sent to Russia, Moscow to fulfill his tasks.

As it is determined in the Grant Agreement liaison officer point in Russia established by the State Border Guard of the Republic of Latvia is intended to support the activities of the Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia and of the third countries in field of combating illegal immigration.

During the 2013 Immigration Liaison Officer established and maintained direct contacts with the Lithuanian, Estonian and other partners from EU and non EU countries, competent authorities of the Russian Federation and other liaison officers and representatives of the Embassies accredited in the Russian Federation.

R.Deičmanis in 2013 obtained information regarding fake and stolen documents (passports, visas, residence permits, blanks etc.), persons who pose risks of illegal immigration and other infromation which is necessary to fight against transborder crime (78 cases in total). R.Deičmanis regularly sent such information to State Border Guard as well as to Lithuanian and Estonian Border agencies.

According to another countries` liaison officers, Latvian and Lithuanian Embassy Consular Section in Moscow and airlines` request, the information regarding 14 people and 2 cars was checked in cooperation with State Border Guard.

In cooperation with Latvian Embassy Consular Section in Moscow, State Border Guard has received information regarding 90 people, which reflects illegal immigration risks and probably, their traveling aims did not match to answers provided in the form filled for visa.
Liaison officer participated in few international forums aimed to fight against illegal migration and transborder crime.

R.Deičmanis organized a seminar for the representatives of the Russian travel agencies, during which consulted representatives about issues concerning travel documents, counterfeit technique and about methods how to detect them, as well as introduced with the general information about State Border Guard.

Bearing in mind importance of activities of R.Deičmanis, carried out actions aimed to fight against transborder crime, as well as considering achieved results, the State Border Guards considered that it is necessary to continue actions of the Liaison Officer Pont in Russia after July 2014 (Project implementation period 02.01.2013.-30.06.2014.).

Taking into account mentioned above State Border Guard of the Republic of Latvia prepared project proposal to continue activities of the Immigration Liaison Officers Point in Russia after July 2014.

In December 2013 State Border Guard of the Republic of Latvia received from the European Commission signed Grant Agreement for the action "Further Development of Immigration Liaison Officers Point of the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, and the Republic of Estonia in Russia" starting from 1 July of 2014 for 24 months.

Currently the officers of the Central Board of the State Border Guard of Latvia carrying out necessary actions to continue development of Immigration Liaison Officers Point in Russia after 31 of June 2014 in the framework of new project of the European Commission.

The project is implemented in the framework of the External Border Fund under the Programme "Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows (2007 - 2013)" of the European Commission.

The project is coo financed by the European Union

Contact person: Sandis Panga

E-mail: Sandis.Panga@rs.gov.lv

Tel.: 67075754

Fax: 67075756

Date of publication: 25.02.2014.

Implementation of the project "Further development of Immigration Liaison Officers Point of the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, and the Republic of Estonia in Russia" on 14^th April, 2014

To fulfil the overall objective of the project (to contribute to carrying out the activities that the Member States' competent authorities manage in third countries with regard to entry by the nationals of third countries the territories of the Member States and cooperation between the Member States, including air and activities of the immigration liaison officer) on 8 and 9 of April 2014 Liaison Officer of the State Border Guard of Latvia lieutenant-colonel Raimonds Deičmanis in the framework of the Project No HOME/2011/EBFX/CA/2006 „Further development of Immigration Liaison Officers Point of the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, and the Republic of Estonia in Russia" of the External Border Fund under the Programme "Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows (2007 - 2013)" of the European Commission organized meetings - workshops with the representatives of the Russian Raillway company, Ecoline and representatives of the air carriers.

Meetings were attended by the representatives of the Russian Railway company, Ecoline company and representatives of the air carriers of the Russian airports, as well as following Latvian officials: Chief of the Expertise Service of the Central Board of the State Border Guard of Latvia major Gunta Laganovska, official representative of Latvian Railway in Russia Larisa Ivolgina, Chief of the Consular Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in Russian Federation Inga Skrūzmane, attaché of the Latvian Customs in Russia Inta Kovaļevska as well as attaché of the Latvian Ministry of Transport.

Following key issues were discussed during the meetings:
- Issuance of Schengen visa, Schengen Limited territory visa, validity of visa, travel documents, return certificates, resident permits, airport transit;
- New tendencies of using false travel documents, use of other person's travel documents;
- Description of false travel documents (Presentation by the Chief of the Expertise Service of the Central Board of the State Border Guard of Latvia major Gunta Laganovska)

The project is implemented in the framework of the External Border Fund under the Programme "Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows (2007 - 2013)" of the European Commission.

The project is coo financed by the European Union

Contact person: Sandis Panga

E-mail: Sandis.Panga@rs.gov.lv

Tel.: 67075754

Fax: 67075756

Date of publication: 14.04.2014.