Inflation of basic goods alongside increasing fertilizer and fuel prices as a result of Western sanctions on Russia angered rural Peruvians, shifting them from their position of supporting Castillo to protesting his government.[1][2] Since Peru relies on importing oil products more than other nations in the region, the sanctions and subsequent price increases had a larger impact.[3] The first blockades began on 28 March 2022, the day of the failed impeachment of President Castillo.[4] UGTRANM outlined demands that included the removal of passenger restrictions in buses, pardons for transportation workers who were charged with crimes and negotiations for transportation businessmen who owed thousands of soles to the government.[32] UGTRANM leader Geovani Rafael Diez Villegas himself owed the Superintendencia Nacional de Administración Tributaria (SUNAT) thousands of soles.[6] Castillo stated on 31 March that protests were organized by "paid leaders" and "malintentioned", though he would later apologize while maintaining that some demonstrations "may have infiltrated".[10]