Volgograd truckers report some progress in dialogue with authorities

Today, the strike of truckers of the Volgograd Region, who take part in the All-Russian action against the "Platon" system, was visited by Andrei Bazhutin, the leader of the Association of Russian Carriers (ARC). According to Mr Bazhutin and truckers, the authorities of the region are trying to establish a dialogue with them; while the protesters hope to convey their position to the Russian State Duma.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 27, Russian truckers, including those in Southern Russia, resumed their protests, demanding to abolish the transport tax and the "Platon" system, and to reduce the excises on fuel.

On April 6, the column of Volgograd strikers consisted of 31 trucks; there were no provocations and detentions, said the strikers.

Andrei Bazhutin told about the detention on April 5 in Moscow of Rustam Magomedov, an ARC member from Dagestan and one of the organizers of the strike.

As reported by Roman Andronov, the chairman of the board of the Regional Union of Carriers and the coordinator of the regional ARC, since March 27, Anatoly Vasiliev, the chairman of the transport committee of the Volgograd Region, met the protesters for three times.

At the request of Mr Vasiliev, protesters have calculated the rise in prices of basic foodstuffs (bread and milk) after the introduction of the "Platon" system.

After collecting all the data, the officials of the regional administration plan to arrange a meeting of strikers with one of State Duma MPs from the Volgograd Region.

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