At least 150 truckers at protest in Manas

A part of Dagestani truck drivers, who stopped their strike against the "Platon" system in Kayakent, have joined the protest of their colleagues in Manas.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in Dagestan, starting from November 15, truckers are on strike within the framework of the All-Russian protest action, by parking their heavy-duty trucks on the highway shoulders. The strike venues are Khasavyurt, Kizlyar, Kayakent and the village of Manas of the Karabudakhkent District. Power agents are deployed near the venues; and drivers reported detentions of strikers and attempts to disperse the action. It became known today that over 400 drivers of heavy-duty vehicles protesting near the Dagestani village of Kayakent stopped their strike.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that today in the village of Manas at least 150 truckers continue their protest action against the introduction of the "Platon" system.

A driver Murad Aliev, who joined the action in Manas on November 24, while coming from the Kayakent strike, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent about detentions of some protesters.

"In Kayakent, there were no provocation; the police acted adequately, although there were also officers in masks. In Manas, they staged provocation and detained people. In total, 12 persons were detained – they didn't keep them long; they were released on the following day. As far as I know, now only two persons are in custody," said the trucker.

He also informed that today the drivers had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Dagestan Abdusamad Gamidov, local MPs and officials from the regional Ministry of Transports.

"Gamidov said that they can't solve our problems and meet our demands, since it should be done at the federal level," said Murad Aliev.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.