Volgograd truckers announce huge losses during protest action against "Platon"

The strike of truck drivers and entrepreneurs with the demand to abolish the "Platon" system has brought a lot of losses. This was stated by participants of the protest action in Volgograd, interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot". Owners of small transport companies voice their thoughts of impending bankruptcy of their companies, and many truck drivers report that they have returned back to work, but they refuse to pay tolls to the "Platon" system for the use of federal highways. However, some truck drivers report their intention to continue the protest action until all the demands are fulfilled.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 9, in Moscow, truck drivers, including from Volgograd, decided to create the all-Russian association for the protection of their rights. On December 11, the Volgograd truck drivers established the Regional Union of Entrepreneurs and Carriers. By December 15, some of the protesters left for the regions to create local professional associations, and by December 18, they are expected to return to Moscow.

The strike has been lasting for a month, reports Elena Popova, a trucker from Volgograd. According to her, everything will "depend on what Moscow official decide."

Elena Popova has also added that some people want to support the existing association "Trucker"; however, the "objective is still the same to seek the abolition of the system 'Platon’".

According to truck driver Alexander Lutkov, some organizations similar to the Union of Entrepreneurs and Carriers had been established earlier, and they were soon liquidated.

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