On Tuesday morning, the 23rd of January, the first tractors and other agricultural machinery started arriving in Vilnius, with their final stop on Gediminas Avenue, as farmers prepare to protest in front of the government building about what they see as poor agricultural policies in Lithuania.
The protest is expected to start on Wednesday and last until Friday morning.
Raimundas Juknevičius, President of the Lithuanian Farmers’ Union (LŪS), said that the number of protesters and machinery for the upcoming protest in Vilnius was not yet known. Initially 500 agricultural machinery units are expected, but in total
around 5 000 farmers are expected to take part in the protest.
Since Tuesday morning, columns of tractors have been driving along Gediminas Avenue, escorted by police escorts. The tractors will be waiting at certain locations in preparation for the protest planned for Wednesday and Thursday in front of the government building.
This is the second wave of farmers’ protests after the first one in early January.
Farmers from across Lithuania are protesting against the government’s agricultural policy, increased excise duties on fuel, the obligation to restore perennial meadows, the extension of protected areas and other issues.
According to the organisers of the protests, farmers plan to meet with agricultural policy makers during the protest.
Read the full article in English here: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2177292/500-tractors-in-vilnius-lithuanian-farmers-gear-up-for-protest
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