Embassy of Belarus in Riga, Latvia; address Jēzusbaznīcas iela 12, 1050, Rīga; phone +37167204524. Head of mission: Mr. Aleksander M. Gerasimenko. Plus 1…
Head of mission: Mr. Aleksander M. Gerasimenko, Ambassador (as of 2010)
Belarus offers a blend of cultural and natural attractions that could appeal to some Latvian visitors. With around 500,000 Latvians traveling abroad annually, a portion may find Belarus an intriguing destination worth exploring.
Belarus is generally considered less safe for tourists compared to Latvia. According to safety rankings, Belarus is 38th out of 40 countries for safety while walking alone at night, whereas Latvia ranks 25th. The Global Peace Index places Belarus at 110th out of 160 countries, compared to Latvia's 30th position. In terms of crime statistics, the murder rate in Belarus is lower than in Latvia, with Belarus at 2.4 per 100,000 people and Latvia at 3.0. However, Belarus has higher indices for state crime (9.0) and human trafficking (7.0) compared to Latvia, which has lower indices in these areas (2.0 and 4.5, respectively). Overall, while some crime rates are lower in Belarus, the overall safety and organized crime indices suggest that Latvia is a safer destination for tourists.