site.btaFarmers Plan to Stage Protest at Sofia Entrance on Tuesday

Farmers disgruntled with the government's agricultural policy plan to protest at the Sofia entrance on Tuesday morning, the Initiative Committee of the national agricultural protest stated on Monday evening at a briefing. “We are gathering at Botevgradsko Shose Blvd. at 10 am,” the representatives of the Committee added.

Some 600 tractors and combine harvesters are expected to arrive from all over the country for the event. The Committee members explained the they will not be entering the Bulgarian capital on Tuesday, as there will be a trade union in front of the Council of Ministers during the day.

Sofia Municipality’s decision whether the tractors will be allowed to move to the National Assembly is still pending. If permitted, this will happen after the protest of the trade unions.

National Grain Producer Association Chair Ilia Prodanov told BTA that the farmers' protest in front of the National Assembly will most likely take place on Wednesday.

On Monday morning, farmers blocked over forty important roads and border crossings. The protest organizers urged people to refrain from traveling unless it is a matter of emergency. The Interior Ministry said that "the entire personnel is engaged in ensuring public order" during the protests. A key junction near Yambol (Southeastern Bulgaria) was blocked for over eight hours during the day.

The protests were provoked by the lifting of a ban on Ukrainian food imports by the Bulgarian Parliament on September 14.