Latvian protest calls for end to rail transit of Russian and stolen Ukrainian grain
More than 300 people joined a protest in Jēkabpils, Latvia, demanding an end to rail transit of grain from Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories. Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs attended, backed the goal in principle and said a draft law would be submitted to the parliament, but no immediate decision was reached.
Key points
- The protest took place in Jēkabpils, Latvia, on Saturday under the slogan "No to bloody grain!"
- More than 300 people and nearly 200 vehicles took part, according to the reported event summary.
- The protest called for Latvia to stop rail transit of grain from Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories.
- Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs attended and said the transit should end.
- A draft law is planned to stop new contracts for Russian grain transit.
- Kulbergs said immediate, unilateral action was difficult because the issue requires EU coordination and could hurt Latvia economically.
- Ukraine, Britain and Latvia plan to identify stolen grain through chemical and isotopic analysis.
Why it matters
The protest renewed pressure on Latvia and the EU to prevent regional transport infrastructure from being used for grain from Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories. Kulbergs supported ending the transit and announced a draft law to prohibit new contracts, but his comments underscored the difficulty of unilateral action without EU agreement. Chemical and isotopic checks proposed by Ukraine, Britain and Latvia could help distinguish stolen Ukrainian grain and prevent its movement through EU transport networks.
What happened
The demonstration took place in Jēkabpils under the slogan "No to bloody grain!" Activists used cars, agricultural machinery, tractors and trucks carrying Latvian and Ukrainian flags, while farmers and public activist Gundars Kalve called on the Latvian government to end the rail transit of grain from Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories. More than 300 people attended, with the number of vehicles reported as nearly 200. Kulbergs said a draft law would be submitted to the parliament to stop new contracts for Russian grain transit and that ministries would coordinate their actions the following week. He acknowledged that a rapid decision had not been found and said EU coordination was necessary.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage emphasizes that the grain comes partly from occupied Ukrainian territories, that EU ports and transport infrastructure can facilitate its movement, and that chemical and isotopic checks could reveal its origin. The restrictions are framed as a way to prevent Russia from monetizing stolen Ukrainian grain and using the proceeds to sustain its war and destruction of Ukrainians.
How international sources describe it
The protest is presented within a broader regional European debate. Lithuania is pressing for practical checks of grain origin, Estonia plans to halt Russian grain transit through its ports completely, and the Latvian prime minister argues that restrictions require EU coordination and could bring economic consequences for Latvia if adopted unilaterally.
Where reporting differs
The sources differ in their description of the demonstration's scale: one described several dozen heavy vehicles, while the other reported close to 200 vehicles. The broader event summary likewise states that nearly 200 vehicles participated.
Background
Some protest participants said Latvian farmers also suffer losses because of grain transit. Ukraine, Britain and Latvia have agreed to track stolen grain through chemical analysis and plan to determine the geographic origin of wheat, maize, barley and sunflower seed using isotopic and chemical methods.