Farmers at Promachonas customs – Roadblocks reinforced across the country

The farmers arrived at the Promachonas customs post in Serres shortly after 5 p.m., and it remains to be seen whether they will block traffic to and from Bulgaria. Meanwhile, farmers remain determined at the roadblocks that have already been set up in recent days throughout the rest of the country.

Specifically, the farmers’ tractors managed to break through the roadblocks set up by the Hellenic Police since the morning and arrived at the Promachonas border station on Wednesday afternoon.

As Stergios Litos, president of the Serres Prefecture Farmers’ Association, told NEWS 24/7, “We have reached the border and are waiting to see what happens next. There are many of us and we are determined to stay here; we will not leave”.

The farmers will decide at noon on Thursday at 12:00 p.m. when and for how long they will proceed with the closure of the customs office.

It should be noted that shortly before 12:00 noon, farmers, livestock breeders, and beekeepers from across the prefecture of Serres arrived with their tractors at the Sidirokastro intersection at the Lefkonas junction. There were strong police forces there, as well as at key points on the Serres-Promachonas national road.

The police had lined up three riot police vans perpendicular to the road, blocking the road and preventing the farmers from passing through to Promachonas. However, the farmers managed to break through the blockade and headed towards Promachonas.

Farmers remain at the roadblocks for a fourth day, determined to celebrate in the streets, demanding solutions to their basic demands: high production costs, low product prices, and the need for immediate payment of subsidies.

The blockade on the E65 in Karditsa is being reinforced

The farmers’ blockade in Karditsa is growing stronger, with the number of tractors approaching 2,500. Farmers and livestock breeders say they are determined not to stop until they get justice.

Speaking to NEWS 24/7, the president of the United Federation of Agricultural Associations of Karditsa, Kostas Tzellas, expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the blockades in the country and described it as unprecedented that in less than a week so many blockades have been set up on national roads and at customs posts.

“The tractors continue to arrive, despite the rain, and we are ready to see this through to the end. It is unprecedented that in less than a week we have managed to achieve such coordination nationwide. After the blockade in Promachonas, in Serres, which was important, we are waiting for our colleagues from Central Greece and then we will proceed with nationwide coordination again”, he said.

In fact, the farmers have already been supplied with tents, stoves, and even a Christmas tree.

“We are a blockade across Greece” – Over 1,500 tractors in Nice

Farmers from Larissa remain at Nikai’s junction for the fourth day. With more than 1,500 tractors, the farmers want to send a clear message to the government. Speaking to NEWS 24/7, the president of the United Federation of Agricultural Associations of Larissa Prefecture, Rizos Maroudas, said that more than 100 tractors arrived today. “We want to send a clear and loud message to the government that we will not back down. We denounce state authoritarianism and police repression. Problems are not solved with repression but with political will,” he stressed.

“We are a blockade throughout Greece. We are waiting until Sunday for all the blockades to be set up and then we will decide on our next moves,” said Mr. Maroudas.

Meanwhile, tomorrow they are planning a protest in support of the two farmers who were arrested on Sunday during the riots and are expected to be brought to the courthouse at 1:30 p.m. “We will be there from 12:00 to show our support for our colleagues,” he added, noting that the farmer who was injured during the clash with riot police on Sunday has been released from the hospital.

While the Nice junction remains closed, vehicles are being diverted via Platykampos. Vehicles coming from Athens are being diverted from the Kileler junction.

The road to Athens remains closed at Malgara – The road to Thessaloniki is also closed

Farmers remain lined up at the Malgara toll booths today. The road to Athens has been closed since Monday, while farmers from the municipality of Delta proceeded today with a short-term blockade – from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. – of the road to Thessaloniki.

Blockade at the Kipoi customs post

Farmers in Evros proceeded to blockade the Kipoi customs post, where approximately 200 tractors gathered, completely blocking the passage of large trucks. Only passenger cars and buses are allowed to pass, which continue to travel normally to and from Turkey.

The Evzoni customs office will be symbolically closed again today

Farmers and livestock breeders from the municipality of Paionia and other areas will proceed with a new blockade of the Evzoni customs office on the Greek border with North Macedonia today.

Tomorrow, another 150 farmers from Giannitsa are expected to join the blockade.