Fruit growers protest in Warsaw
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
04.11.2014 12:49
Polish fruit growers descended on the capital on Tuesday, with farmers reeling from an embargo imposed by Moscow in August.
Protesting fruit growers march through Warsaw. Photo: PAP/Tomasz Gzell
Fruit growers claim that 1.5 million tonnes of apples have gone unsold as a result of the sanctions.
Protesters say that the Polish government is not providing sufficient aid.
“We're going to block the main bridges and roads,” one protester commented, as cited by the Wprost weekly's news web site.
“We have to. For our families it's a question of our very existence.
“It's our duty to be here, both for our predecessors and for our children.”
Moscow introduced the embargo on 1 August, in response to EU sanctions against Russian companies and individuals over the Ukrainian crisis.
The EU set in motion a compensation programme for farmers on 18 August. However, the programme was suspended in mid-September amid claims that Polish applicants were making disproportionate claims.
Protesters aim to picket several ministries in succession on Tuesday. (nh)