Truck drivers from Dagestan detained while protesting in Khimki

The police have detained members of the "Association of Russian Carriers" (known as OPR), who came to Khimki from various regions, including Dagestan, to hold an action against the "Platon" system. Three detainees are sentenced to fines, and the rest are awaiting a trial.

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.

On May 21, truck drivers from Dagestan, Ryazan, Saratov, Orenburg, Saint Petersburg, and Moscow came to the action in Khimki. After a while, policemen arrived, a bus with OMON (riot police) fighters, and about an hour later, they began to detain the protestors.

After their detention, the members of the "Association of Russian Carriers" were brought to the 1^st Khimki OVD (Interior Division) and charged with disobeying the lawful demand of the police, the "OVD-Info" reports.

In the evening of May 22, three detainees Nikolai Manko, Maxim Arzhanykh, and Yuri Bukanov were brought to court. Each of them was fined 500 roubles. The rest of the detainees remained in the police.

On the same day, carriers were to meet officials of the authorities. However, the meeting did not take place.

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