The last bus service from Latvia to Russia may disappear from January 9, 2027

The last bus service from Latvia to Russia may disappear from January 9, 2027. The Latvian Ministry of Transport has prepared and submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers amendments to the Law on Road Transport, which provide for a complete ban on both regular and irregular international passenger transportation by bus to Russia and Belarus, including a ban on transit through Latvia to these countries. Currently, according to an international agreement, there is only one regular bus route from Latvia to Russia. The permit for this route is valid until January 9, 2027, but the ministry is already emphasizing that it is not planned to extend it. At the same time, the Ministry recognizes that the effect of the restrictions imposed only by Latvia is not complete. Passengers continue to find workarounds using connecting routes through neighboring countries Estonia and Lithuania, and also continue to use minibuses, which are not covered by the new rules governing bus transportation. The Ministry of Communications is trying to find a unified solution at the level of the entire Baltic States and the EU.