29 Apr 2024 | 07:41 PM UTC
Poland: Additional farmers' protests likely through at least early May despite unblocking of all border crossings as of April 29 /update 7
Farmers end all protest blockades at Polish border crossings as of April 29; additional demonstrations nonetheless likely through early May.
As of April 29, farmers have ended their protest blockades at all Polish border crossings. Despite this development, farmers in Poland will likely continue their campaign of road blockade protests through at least early May. The purpose of the demonstrations has been to denounce EU agricultural policies and the continued import of Ukrainian agricultural products. If further protests materialize, they will probably most consistently occur at border crossing points; however, periodic national-level mobilizations are also likely.
On April 29, local authorities ordered protesting farmers at the Hrebenne-Rava-Ruska crossing to disband after refusing a request to extend the protest's permit; demonstration organizers may appeal the decision. This follows the end of protest activity at the Dolhobyczow-Uhryniv and Dorohusk-Yahodyn crossings on April 16 and 22, respectively. Similar actions have also taken place at the Korczowa-Krakovets, Zosin-Ustyluh, and Medyka-Shehyni crossings. Additional blockades are possible at the nation's border crossings with little-to-no warning; blockades are particularly possible at the Hrebenne-Rava-Ruska and Dorohusk-Yahodyn crossings, where demonstration organizers will almost certainly appeal the local demonstration bans and may decide to resume their blockades at the sites regardless of the results of any such appeals.
Farmers' groups protested on the Lithuanian border as recently as April 20. Participants blocked all road traffic on the DK16 highway in Ogrodniki and the S61 highway junction in Szypliszki 07:00-19:00 daily for approximately one month. On March 31, farmers ended a protest at the Barwinek-Vysny Komarnik border crossing with Slovakia; however, the action may resume with little-to-no warning.
Blockades and other protests will likely intermittently continue on Poland's borders with Germany and the Czech Republic. Such actions have primarily impacted the Swiecko-Frankfurt, Gubin-Guben, and Sieniawka-Zittau Chopinstrasse crossings with Germany and the Sieniawka-Hradek nad Nisou crossing with the Czech Republic.
Although farmers mostly target freight trucks, particularly those with Ukrainian license plates, the protests will likely also disrupt other types of cross-border vehicular traffic as well as pedestrian crossings. Authorities will probably maintain a heightened security posture near affected crossings to monitor the situation and minimize disruptions. Alternate border crossings will likely experience increased congestion.
Plan accordingly for freight and passenger transport delays via affected border crossings. Confirm the status of border crossings before traveling or routing shipments; consider using alternative routes to circumvent protest locations. Be prepared for short-notice disruptive blockade protests nationwide. Check planned travel routes for disruptions before departing. Heed instructions from security services. Leave the area at the first sign of a confrontation. Do not attempt to pass through any roadblocks set up by protesters; allow police to remove them before proceeding.
