Latvian PM Kulbergs says Russian grain transit cannot be stopped yet, joins Jēkabpils protest

In brief

• Latvian PM Andris Kulbergs joined a protest in Jēkabpils against Russian grain transit through Latvia.
• He says the transit cannot be stopped until the EU agrees, though a national bill may be prepared.
• Protest organisers are considering blocking railway tracks and will meet on 10 November to decide.

Protest in Jēkabpils

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs (AS) took part in a rally held on Saturday, 7 November, in Jēkabpils under the slogan "Blood grain – no!". Several hundred protesters gathered, and dozens of heavy vehicles, including tractors and grain trucks, were parked nearby (Video: Protestā "Asins graudiem – nē!" desmitiem smago auto; Kulbergs sola tranzītu apturēt – DELFI.lv). The demonstration aimed to secure a ban on grain transit through Latvia that originates in Russia and in occupied Ukrainian territories (Kulbergs pagaidām neredz iespēju izbeigt Krievijas graudu tranzītu; dosies uz protestu – DELFI.lv).

Government position

At the rally, Kulbergs said a bill could be submitted to the Saeima that would stop new transit contracts from being signed. He added that ministries would coordinate the draft the following week. Earlier, at a press conference after a cabinet meeting, he said his position had not changed but that the transit cannot be stopped for now, because the EU has not reached unanimity on the issue (Прем'єр Латвії візьме участь в акції протесту проти транзиту російського зерна – Європейська правда). He argued that transit restrictions fall under EU competence and that Latvia must follow common rules, rather than act alone (Vai Latvija pati drīkst aizliegt graudu tranzītu? Sociālajos medijos uzšvirkst diskusija – DELFI.lv).

Organisers weigh rail blockade

Protest initiator Gundars Kalvė, a farmer and activist, told LETA that organisers do not rule out blocking the railway tracks if the transit is not halted. He said the rally was well organised, though fewer people attended than expected, and that he had received many calls of support afterwards (Latvijos protestuotojai neatmeta galimybės dėl rusiškų grūdų tranzito blokuoti geležinkelį – Bernardinai.lt). Organisers plan to meet on Tuesday, 10 November, in the evening to decide on next steps. Kalvė criticised Kulbergs's speech as aggressive and without concrete promises, and said he felt uneasy after it.

What comes next

The government is expected to consider an information report on the legal options available to Latvia. Kulbergs has said the Baltic states are raising the issue within the EU. Whether a national bill can be adopted without EU-level agreement remains open.