Latvia Builds First Section of Fence on Border With Russia - Reports

Latvia has built the first 1.8 miles of a fence on its border with Russia in order to protect against illegal migrants entering the European Union, Latvian media reported Monday, citing a state official with the Border Guard Service.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to the Delfi news agency, Riga hopes to receive nearly $19 million from Brussels to cover the costs of constructing the 57-mile fence. The first tranche of $2 million for constructing a 15-mile section has already been allocated to Latvia, according to the publication.

The minimum height of the fence is expected to stand at six-and-a-half foot, according to head of the Latvian Border Guard Service Normunds Garbars.