Residents of Dagestan unblock highway after release of two truck drivers

In the evening of April 24, residents of the village of Kayakent blocked the traffic on the "Caucasus" highway after the detention of two truck drivers who protested against the "Platon" system. This is reported today, on April 25, by the "Gazeta.ru" with reference to the "Rosavtodor".

After the local residents started their protest, both detained truck drivers were released and the highway was unblocked, the "Dozhd" (Rain) reports with reference to journalist Khalid Omarov.

In the evening of April 24, the website of the "Rosavtodor" reported about the blocked traffic on the "Caucasus" highway; however, later it was deleted, the "Dozhd" reports.

The residents of Kayakent started their protest in connection with the fact that four days ago, two truck drivers disappeared together with their trucks and their relatives demanded to find the disappeared men, the "Kavkaz.Realii" reports with reference to a source in the Karabudakhkent District.

Until present, no comments from the law enforcement bodies of Dagestan concerning the incident with truck drivers have been available.

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.

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