Local producers block roads in Telenești to protest cheap imports and market barriers
Moldovan police have issued a high-priority travel warning for the Negureni–Telenești highway on January 6.
Local farmers are mobilizing heavy machinery for a protest that is expected to cause significant traffic disruptions on one of the country's primary transit routes.
The demonstration coincides with Orthodox Christmas Eve, a period of peak travel as citizens visit rural communities. Authorities urge drivers to avoid the area, warning that potential road blockades combined with unfavorable weather could paralyze regional movement.
Economic grievances and import pressures
The protest was organized via social media by farmers frustrated by limited access to retail shelves and the influx of low-cost imports from Ukraine and other markets. Producers claim they are forced to sell at a deficit or abandon agriculture entirely due to unfair practices by major retail chains.
"Moldova, an agricultural-based economy, has shelves filled with imports—cheap onions from Ukraine and massive potato imports," stated Andrei Ioniță, a former official at the State Agency on Intellectual Property. He noted that small producers are sidelined by mandatory promotions and strict selection criteria.
Commitment to peaceful demonstration
The General Police Inspectorate has called on participants to show civic responsibility and cooperate with law enforcement. Officers will be on-site to manage road safety and prevent complete closures of public thoroughfares.
Organizers have scheduled the demonstration to begin at 12:00 PM. While the protest is intended to remain peaceful, the involvement of tractors and large equipment is likely to result in prolonged delays throughout the day.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
