A group called 'Black Rus' claimed responsibility for a border incident between Belarus and Latvia, but experts doubt its existence, calling it a Russian disinformation operation.
Group claims border incident
A group named "Black Rus" claimed responsibility in a video released on October 9 for an incident that occurred during the night of October 5 to 6 at the border between Belarus and Latvia. The group allegedly attempted to smuggle undocumented migrants into Latvia and then stole surveillance cameras.Group's stated goals
The group describes itself as made up of "Belarusian patriots" and promotes the unification of Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. It maintains a website, produces dozens of videos, and updates a Telegram account daily, suggesting a structured online presence.Latvian authorities respond
Latvian security services have started an investigation but have not officially confirmed the existence of the group. The situation remains unclear, with no public confirmation of the group's activities or its members.Experts question group's legitimacy
Some analysts suspect the group may be part of a Russian disinformation campaign. Maris Andzans from the Riga Geopolitical Studies Center, speaking to France 24, said there is approximately 0% chance the group is a real entity. He suggested the masked man in the video might be a member of Belarusian or Russian intelligence services.Historical context and concerns
This would be the first time since 2022 that a group has been created to claim such an action. In 2014, Moscow reportedly created fake autonomous militias in the Donbass region. Former Latvian Defense Minister Imants Liegis called the situation a "disinformation operation" but urged people to "stay calm" in response to what he described as a staged event.
