Latvian President-elect Edgars Rinkevičs announced on Saturday that his country had increased border security in response to a military uprising in Russia and that it was no longer allowing Russians to enter its territory, AFP reported.

“Latvia is closely monitoring the development of the situation in Russia (…). Border protection has been strengthened,” he wrote on Twitter, declaring that the issuance of visas or the entry of Russians from Russia has been suspended.

“Latvia will not issue humanitarian or other visas,” added the newly elected president, who is also the minister of foreign affairs.

Latvia stopped issuing new visas to Russian citizens last year, but still made exceptions for humanitarian visas.

No details were provided regarding the validity period of already issued visas for entering the territory of Latvia.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaia Kallas said that her country’s “border security” has been “strengthened”.

“I also urge our people not to travel” to Russia, she added.

The Wagner Group’s insurgency is the most serious challenge to the leadership of Russian President Vladimir Putin and opens Russia’s worst security crisis since he came to power.

This is happening at a time when Kyiv is in the midst of a counteroffensive to win back its territories.