In Cherkessk, truck drivers demand meeting with Russian top-ranking officials

Today, in Karachay-Cherkessia, at a meeting with truck drivers, the Chairman of the Association of Russian Carriers has stated that in order to achieve the cancellation of the "Platon" system, truck drivers on protest should carry out negotiations not with regional officials, but with the Russian Prime Minister and the Russian Minister of Transport.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 27, Russian truck drivers resumed mass protests. They demand to abolish the transport tax, reduce fuel excises and cancel the "Platon" system introduced to collect tolls from drivers of heavy trucks on federal roads.

Today, in Cherkessk, on the Pyatigorsk highway, about 100 truck drivers from Karachay-Cherkessia have participated in the meeting with Andrei Bazhutin, Chairman of the Association of Russian Carriers, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

At the meeting, Andrei Bazhutin has stated that the protesters are being pressured by the police. "People were taken away, and a lot of trials took place. They tried to isolate the organizers. We need to find a clear solution. We believe that the Russian Prime Minister and the Minister of Transport should meet the people. The people will voice their problems. Truck drivers were met only by officials of a regional level, who said that the problem should be solved only at the federal level," stated Andrei Bazhutin.

He has noted that 600,000-700,000 Russian truck drivers can lose their jobs because of the "Platon" system.

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