Increased Police Presence Reported at Bulgaria-Greece Border

Tractors block the border crossing Kulata-Promahon, at the Greek-Bulgarian border, for the 3rd week in a row, resulting in kilometers-long lines of trucks and cars. Photo by BGNES

Tensions and incidents occurred late Tuesday night at the border crossing point Kulata – Promahon between Greece and Bulgaria.

The information was published in the Greek press Wednesday, informing that the late-hour incidents involved mainly verbal altercations between the stranded drivers and the protesting Greek farmers after some of the drivers attempted to go through the narrow space left open for emergencies.

The blockade is well in its third week. There is increased police presence in the area to avoid more serious problems between the demonstrators and the drivers, who are getting angrier and more impatient.

At 2 am, the farmers opened the border only for the cars that were stranded since noon on Tuesday in the freezing cold. Last night the car, bus and tractor-trailers line had been 20-km long on both sides of the border.

Over 500 tractor trailers are reported at Kulata Wednesday by the Regional Police Directorate in Bulgaria's Smolyan. The line has grown by 150 trucks since Tuesday evening and all drivers have spent the night in their trucks.

Kulata-Promahon is blocked for all traffic Wednesday.

The border cross point at Ilinden-Eksohi is also closed for trucks, but cars and buses are let through.

Capitan Petko Voyvoda – Ormenion and Zlatograd are open for traffic. The road at Zlatograd, however, is not accessible for tractor-trailers.

The next two days, February 4 and 5, are expected to break even greater havoc at the border over the planned strike of the Greek Customs agents, who are protesting the increased taxation of their income.

On their part, the Greek farmers, reject the measures proposed by the Greek cabinet and vow to continue the blockade until their demands are met.

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