Polish farmers have burnt EU flags during a violent clash with riot police in what marks the latest instance in a string of demonstrations across Europe.
The protesters gathered outside Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s office in Warsaw to demand a pause on cheap imports and environmental regulations which they say are hindering their livelihoods.
They are also calling for Poland’s border with Ukraine to be sealed to stop the imports of grain and other food products, claiming they are bringing down the prices the farmers can get on the domestic market.
Marching towards the Polish parliament, called the Sejm, the farmers, supported by miners, foresters, hunters and others, burnt tyres and lit firecrackers. Meanwhile, agricultural workers mounted their tractors to block highways heading into the city.
Polish farmers have clashed with riot police in angry demonstrations against EU farming regulations
Reuters
Police responded by using batons, tear gas and stun grenades on the protesters.
“Due to physical aggression against police officers by some of the people protesting ... it was necessary to use direct coercive measures,” Warsaw police wrote online.
Police managed to stop the demonstrators from accessing parliament and detained over a dozen people.
Posting on social media, police said that officers “are not a party to the ongoing dispute” and warned that behaviour compromising their safety “cannot be taken lightly and requires a firm and decisive response”.
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Farmers light a fire as they protest against the European Union's Green Deal and imports of Ukrainian agricultural products
Reuters
Tomasz Obszanski, a farmers' union leader said that police began blocking protesters from leaving once the demonstration ended.
“Everything was peaceful and suddenly the police came out of nowhere, there were loud bangs, the police started using (tear) gas and simply provoking people leaving the protest,” said Obszanski, leader of the NSZZ RI Solidarnosc union for individual farmers.
He said that Tusk had turned down a request to meet with them, adding: “After what happened today, there will be a blockade of the entire country ... Poland will come to a standstill, because a Polish farmer will not allow himself to be treated in such a way, to be batonned.”
Tusk, who is strongly pro-EU, has tried to meet the farmers’ demands, which he sees as justified.
Farmers take part in a protest outside Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's office
Reuters
People carry Polish flags and banners, as farmers protest outside Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's office
Reuters
Slogans with an anti-Ukraine sentiment have featured in the protest, with authorities becoming concerned that Russia is trying to create divisions between Warsaw and Kyiv.
City officials estimate around 30,000 demonstrators joined in the march.
The latest action comes amid weeks of anger and protests from farmers across the bloc.
The EU scrapped a goal to cut farming emissions from its 2040 climate roadmap. It has also withdrawn a law to reduce pesticides and delayed a target for farmers to leave some land fallow to improve biodiversity.