Latvia plans to end regular passenger bus services to Russia and Belarus next year

Latvia is preparing to end regular passenger bus connections with Russia and Belarus, with the country’s only current scheduled route to Russia set to disappear after its permit expires.

The Transport Ministry told Delfi that the permit remains valid until January 9, 2027, but will not be extended. It has prepared a report examining the exchange of road transport permits with Russia from 2022 to 2026, the effects on the economy and employment, and the wider state of passenger transport.

The ministry has also advanced proposals to amend the Road Transport Law. Under the plan, regular and irregular international bus services to Russia and Belarus would be prohibited, as would transit services through Latvian territory to those countries. The Cabinet supported a temporary ban on irregular bus services crossing the Latvia-Russia and Latvia-Belarus borders from November 1, 2025, to October 31, 2026. The ministry is preparing an order to extend that ban for another year.

Officials acknowledged that restricting scheduled services would not have a complete effect. Passengers could still travel through connecting routes in Estonia and Lithuania, while minibus services fall outside the relevant bus transport rules. The ministry said it would continue assessing security, economic and international-obligation concerns while seeking a coordinated solution at Baltic and European Union level.

“

The actual effect of restricting regular services from Latvia is not complete, because passengers can use connecting routes through Estonia and Lithuania, as well as minibus services that do not fall within the scope of the relevant bus transport regulations.