500 tractors in Vilnius: Lithuanian farmers prepare for demonstration

Farmers fill Vilnius streets across Lithuania with large farming equipment to protest against country’s inadequate agricultural policies

The farmers will establish a temporary camp in the center of Vilnius for multiple days, featuring a demonstration of tractors and other heavy equipment in front of the government building on Gediminas Avenue.

The protest is scheduled to commence Wednesday and extend until Friday morning. 

Raimundas Juknevičius, the president of the Lithuanian Farmers’ Union (LŪS) and one of the protest coordinators, mentioned that the exact count of participants and machinery is currently unknown. He stated to LRT.lt that the numbers have unexpectedly risen and are continuing to do so. 

The organizers initially anticipated 500 units of agricultural machinery to partake in the Vilnius protest, but it appears the final count will surpass this estimate.

It is also anticipated that roughly 5,000 farmers will join the protest. 

Groups of tractors, accompanied by law enforcement, have been traveling along Gediminas Avenue since approximately 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday.

They will be stationed in designated areas preparing for the protest in front of the government building on Wednesday and Thursday. 

“Some tractors are already positioned on Gediminas Avenue. Others are awaiting escort, and I am aware some are still en route to Vilnius,” said Dainius Arlauskas of the Lithuanian Agriculture Council to BNS on Tuesday. 

According to a press release from the Police Department, traffic limitations are scheduled for specific sections of Gediminas Avenue from Jan. 23 to 26.

However, it was noted the protesting farmers’ machinery will not obstruct intersections, pedestrian crossings, courtyard entrances or bus stops.

This marks the second phase of the farmers’ protest, following the initial demonstration held in early January.

During that time, farmers throughout Lithuania expressed their grievances against the government’s agricultural policies, the heightened excise tax on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), the requirement to restore plowed permanent grasslands, the dairy crisis and other issues through bonfires. 

Agriculture Minister Kęstutis Navickas conveyed to LRT RADIO he acknowledged the challenges encountered by farmers and has taken measures to rectify errors about the excise taxes on LPG and green fuel. 

“It is part of the political culture of our government to admit and correct mistakes. This happened swiftly after the meeting, and already yesterday a draft legislation on the return of the previous green diesel regime and the reduction of the excise duty on petroleum gas to 41 euros was registered,” he added. 

Source: Newsroom