22 Apr 2024 | 08:43 PM UTC
Poland: Protesting farmers unblock all crossings except Hrebenne-Rava-Ruska April 22; protests remain likely through at least late April /update 6
Protesting farmers end all border protests except at Hrebenne-Rava-Ruska, Poland, April 22. Further protests likely through late April.
As of April 22, farmers have ended protest blockades at all border crossings except for the Hrebenne-Rava-Ruska crossing. Despite this, farmers in Poland will likely continue their campaign of road blockade protests through at least late April. The purpose of the action is to denounce EU agricultural policies and the continued import of Ukrainian agricultural products. The most consistent protests will probably occur at border crossing points; however, periodic national-level mobilizations are also likely.
On April 22, local authorities ordered that protesting farmers at the Dorohusk-Yahodyn crossing disband, and normal crossings soon resumed. Demonstrators have one week to appeal the decision. Farmers departed the Dolhobyczow-Uhryniv crossing on April 16. As of April 22, farmers continue to block the Hrebenne-Rava-Ruska crossing. Similar actions have also taken place at Korczowa-Krakovets, Zosin-Ustyluh, and Medyka-Shehyni. Additional blockades are possible at the nation's border crossings with little to no warning; this is particularly possible at the Hreenne-Rava-Ruska crossing, where demonstration organizers will almost certainly appeal the local demonstration ban and may decide to resume blockades regardless of the result of their appeal.
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 continue intermittently 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 disrupt other types of cross-border vehicular traffic and pedestrian crossings. Authorities will likely 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.
