Farmers protest in Bucharest: Major clashes with gendarmes and key demands from agricultural sector

On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, farmers and livestock breeders from various regions of Romania mobilized for a major protest in Bucharest. The demonstration was unauthorized because the legal procedures for notifying authorities prior to a public gathering were not fulfilled. Participants began gathering in Victoriei Square early in the morning, having organized primarily through social media platforms.

The Capital's Gendarmerie implemented special public order measures, setting up metal barriers and creating protective buffers to separate participants from road traffic. Authorities stated that they did not block protesters from accessing the central enclosed section of the square, but demonstrators chose to remain on the sidewalk in front of the 'Grigore Antipa' Museum. Additionally, checkpoints were established at the entrances to Bucharest to inspect shipments of livestock and agri-food products, while the carrying of blunt objects or weapons was strictly prohibited.

The primary grievance driving the protests is the restriction on live animal exports. The ban on sheep exports has been extended until the end of 2026 due to ongoing outbreaks of sheep and goat plague and pox. Protesters are demanding that sanitary restrictions be applied locally based on specific outbreak areas rather than affecting the entire country. Furthermore, the participants called for the resignation of Alexandru Bociu, President of the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA), criticizing the agency's handling of the epidemiological crisis.

Other critical issues on the agenda include inadequate compensation for crops devastated by severe drought, low market prices for agricultural commodities, soaring fuel costs, grain imports from Ukraine, and heavy bureaucratic burdens. Special police dialogue teams were deployed to communicate with the crowd, while Traffic Police warned motorists of potential traffic restrictions and advised avoiding Victory Square to prevent massive gridlocks.

Following the escalation of tensions, law enforcement monitored the unauthorized gathering closely. Reports from the Ministry of Internal Affairs indicated that the protest ultimately concluded with multiple police interventions, several individuals taken to police stations, and criminal cases opened as authorities managed the public safety fallout.