Jēkabpils plans protest against Russian grain transit

A protest against the transit through Latvia of grain from Russia and Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories is planned in Jēkabpils on Saturday, November 7, LSM reported, citing Ilze Bičevska, a journalist with the newspaper Brīvā Daugava.

Organisers expect up to 2,000 people and between 150 and 400 agricultural vehicles to take part, and say the demonstration will be larger than a similar protest held previously. The event has been notified to and approved by the municipality.

At the protest, titled “No to blood grain!”, participants will demand a ban on Russian grain transit to Latvian ports.

On September 8, the government authorised the Food and Veterinary Service to conduct laboratory tests to establish the origin of grain transported through Latvia. Ukraine had reported significant volumes of grain allegedly taken illegally from occupied territories, and warned that some could be shipped through Latvian ports using Russian documents.

Parliament has amended the Railway Law to increase tariffs on Russian grain transit through Latvia by 300%, but the new rates have not yet been applied. A proposal previously raised in parliament to fully ban transit from aggressor states has not progressed beyond the idea stage.

Estonia has imposed national sanctions banning the transit of Russian and Belarusian grain through the country. No Russian or Belarusian grain has been transported through Estonia.

Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs of the United List party has said that grain transported from Russia through Latvia belongs to countries allied with Latvia, with companies from the United States, Japan and elsewhere buying it. He has cited this as a reason Latvia cannot ban Russian grain transit.

More than 80% of Russia’s grain export capacity has been destroyed in attacks by Ukraine’s armed forces, the article says. Expert estimates put Russian wheat exports at 1.9 million tonnes in August, the lowest level in 16 years.