Lithuanian Agriculture Council decides to continue protests

VILNIUS - The Lithuanian Agriculture Council has decided to continue farmers' protests that took place on Monday as a new round of protests is planned for late January. 

"Executing the will of its members, the Lithuanian Agriculture Council has no choice but to start the second stage of protests when agricultural machinery will be brought to Vilnius. This action will require maximum concentration and effort from our farming community," the Lithuanian Agriculture Council said in a statement on Thursday. 

Its chair Ignas Hofmanas told the public radio LRT on Thursday that farmers plan to gather in Vilnius on January 23-26. 

On Monday, farmers across Lithuania lit bonfires to protest against the government's agricultural policy, increased excise duties on liquefied petroleum gas, the restoration of perennial meadows, and called for the resolution of the dairy crisis and other problems.