İskeçe farmers bring tractors to village squares today

Farmers in İskeçe are placing their tractors in village squares today, Wednesday, December 3, as the first step in their planned mobilizations. In their announcement, they emphasize that they do not intend to disrupt daily life for residents. Their move is described as one of readiness but also prudence, underscoring their desire to keep the local community on their side rather than create tension.

According to the Agricultural and Livestock Association of İskeçe:

“We inform fellow farmers, livestock breeders, and residents of the area that on Wednesday 3/12 we will place our tractors in the village squares, marking the beginning of our mobilizations. The tractors will be positioned in a way that does not obstruct traffic or daily activities. With this initial action, we want to demonstrate our preparedness. The main phase of our mobilizations will begin at the end of the week. We call on all farmers to participate en masse and in unity.”

Rodopi Farmers: Blockade on the İskeçe–Gümülcine Section of Egnatia Odos

A more dynamic protest is unfolding in the region of Rhodope, where farmers have set up a blockade on the Egnatia motorway. The decision was made on Monday afternoon, according to the president of the hodope Agricultural Association, Nikos Botrotsos. Immediately afterward, farmers moved toward the highway, lining up around 200 tractors and blocking the lane from Gümülcine to İskeçe at the 4th kilometer.

The motorway remained closed until 10 p.m. on Tuesday. A new decision will be made regarding whether the blockade will continue.

Only farmers from the Rhodope region took part in the action. Later the same day, at 7 p.m., their representatives attended an assembly in Eleftheroupoli (Pravişte) alongside farmers from İskeçe, Drama, and Kavala. Crucial decisions concerning the next stages and coordination of their mobilizations were expected to be taken during that meeting.