Law enforcers intervene in truckers' action, protestors report

This morning, a convoy of passenger cars with 15 trucks from the Volgograd Region has left the parking lot at the Kashira Highway in Moscow for the town of Khimki in suburb of Moscow, where other protesters against the introduction of the system "Platon" parked their vehicles. The purpose of this trip was to support "their unfortunate colleagues," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Vladimir, a carrier from Volgograd.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that truckers from several regions of Russia, including from the Krasnodar Territory, Dagestan, and Volgograd and Rostov Regions are protesting against the introduction of the "Platon" system that provides for collection of tolls from truck owners and drivers for using federal highways. The strikers announced their intention to launch protests in Moscow; and some of them are now in the suburbs of the Russian capital.

"At present, in total, our parking lot at the Kashira Highway accumulates about 60 trucks, and more than half of them came from the southern regions of Russia, including Dagestan, the Stavropol Territory, and the Rostov and Volgograd Regions. All our protestors expressed their willingness to support protestors in Khimki, but only 15 people started to their place," he said.

Vladimir has explained that truckers from other regions of Russia parked their trucks in Khimki.

When the Volgograd truckers were leaving the parking lot at the Kashira Highway, the police tried to prevent their movement, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Alexander, a Volgograd trucker.

He has noted that the police blocked not only heavy-duty trucks, but also a car, which supplied drivers with hot meals and coffee. According to Alexander, later, the car with food was allowed to enter the parking lot.

The police also closed the cafe, where the drivers ate, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Alexei Ulyanov, a coordinator of the Volgograd truckers.

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