“Kulata–Promachon” Border Crossing Closed Amid Protesting Greek Farmers’ Blockades

The “Kulata–Promachon” border crossing is closed in both directions, Bulgarian Border Police confirmed to BNT on December 3. The blockade by farmers from northern Greece has now reached the border with Bulgaria. Protesters broke through police and gendarmerie cordons and established a blockade on the Greek side of the Promachon checkpoint.

The closure of the Bulgarian-Greek border was requested by Greek authorities due to blocked roads and highways in the areas of Neo Petrici and Siderokastro. Bulgarian officials added that the border will remain closed for an indefinite period.

The General Directorate of Border Police advised travellers in the region to use the “Ilinden–Exochi” border crossing instead.

At 12:00, hundreds of farmers blocked the entrance to the city of Serres. Despite efforts by police and gendarmerie to stop them on their way to Promachon, the blockade was bypassed several times. Using heavy agricultural machinery, the farmers closed the road between Greece and Bulgaria near Promachon, about 10 kilometres from the border.

Babis Fenis, grain producer from Serres:
“The Greek government is destroying our sector. That’s why we are here, and there will be road blockades. They haven’t paid us for a long time. Some have received money — not the amounts we expected, but half of it. Product prices are very low, and we are barely surviving.”

Papiras Mazis, farmer from Serres:
“They stole our EU funds, ruined us, left us hungry. Now, since we have nothing to eat, we protest. If we weren’t here, we’d be fools.”

The protests and blockades are expected to continue until the Greek government pays the subsidies owed to farmers. If payments are not made, the country may face blockades even during the holidays.

Kanazis Pischios:
“Until Easter, not Christmas — we will stay here until Easter. What can we do? Without money, where can we go? They will take our dairies, they will take our houses. They killed 310 of my sheep and didn’t give me a single penny — that’s why we came here.”

Farmers are also blocking border crossings with North Macedonia and Serbia, as well as key highways across Greece.

photos by BNT