Violent protest in Bucharest
Wednesday’s peaceful protest turned to violence in Bucharest.
Mihai Pelin, 16.09.2026, 14:00
A protest organized on Tuesday by farmers in central Bucharest, in front of the Government building, escalated into violent clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement. Farmers, primarily sheep and goat breeders, came to the capital dissatisfied with the European Commission’s June decision to extend the ban on exporting sheep and goats from Romania to third countries until the end of the year.
As the day progressed, however, the protest turned violent after some participants forced their way through gendarmerie cordons, throwing various objects at law enforcement officers, who responded with tear gas. Following the clashes, dozens of people were detained and questioned by the police, while several gendarmes and some protesters required medical attention.
Individuals who were not part of the sheep and goat farming community also took part in the demonstration. Răzvan Răducan, a farmer and representative of a sheep breeders’ federation, stated that certain individuals had infiltrated the shepherds’ protest. He emphasized that they do not represent the farmers and urged the shepherds not to respond to provocations. Regarding the agitators present at the demonstration, he noted that he did not observe on-site evidence that they had planned violent confrontations. At the same time, Răducan pointed out that the individuals who began breaking down the boundary fences and brandishing clubs came from outside.
Răducan also drew attention to the fact that problems have piled up over recent years, pushing people to the end of their tether. He explained that the shepherds had arrived prepared for a multi-day protest. Throughout the day, traffic in Victoria Square and the surrounding streets was completely blocked due to the protest, only resuming toward evening following the intervention of the gendarmes and police.
Following the violence in Victoria Square, political leaders issued messages condemning the escalation of the conflict. President Nicușor Dan described the actions as extremely grave and firmly disapproved of any attempt to turn a legitimate protest into street fighting. The head of state argued that it is equally serious and condemnable for irresponsible politicians to artificially amplify social tension.
Liberal interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan appealed for an end to the violence and stated that he had discussed solutions at the Ministry of Agriculture to address the problems raised by the sheep and goat breeders. PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu stated that dialogue with the farmers’ representatives could have halted the escalation of the conflict and accused extremist forces of taking advantage of the situation to sow chaos. AUR leader George Simion (the populist, ultra-nationalist opposition) remarked that the demonstrators who took part in the violent protest in Victoria Square “were good and far too tolerant”. (VP)
