As of 11am on January 23 2009, all three border checkpoints between Bulgaria and Greece have been closed because of Greek farmer protests, the Bulgarian border police said. Greek farmers have notified Bulgarian border police that they intend to block the roads leading to the Svilengrad-Ormenion border checkpoint, the only one still operating after January 20 2009, when Greek farmers blocked the Koulata-Promahon and Ilinden-Exsohi border checkpoints.

There was no indication of how long Greek farmers would maintain the road blockade, so travellers from Bulgaria to Greece have been advised to use Macedonia as an alternative route. Given that Macedonia is not a European Union country, such might be more difficult for drivers in turns of paperwork.

Greek farmers have been blocking roads in Greece since January 19 to highlight their dissatisfaction over falling prices for their crops.

Farmers have threatened to "cut the country in two" by staging blockades at junctions on the national road network unless their demands are met. They want authorities to set minimum prices for their goods and increase their pensions.

Meanwhile, Bulgarian border police said that, on January 22, Greek farmers tried to enter Bulgarian territory with their farming equipment at the Koulata-Promahon border crossing. At about 1am, farmers drove 15 tractors to the no man's land between Bulgaria and Greece and threatened to enter Bulgarian territory. Bulgarian border police in full kit had to form a barricade of metal fences to turn them back.

There was no physical contact between the farmers and Bulgarian officers. The 100 farmers, according to Bulgarian border police, were under the influence of alcohol and were accompanied by crews from three Greek television stations. They were asked to first pass through Greek border control and then, if they still wanted to carry on, to go through Bulgarian border control.

Farmers broke through the Promahon border by breaking fences. After a meeting, Greek police officials thanked Bulgarian border police for their reaction and promised to take measures to prevent anything similar from happening again.