KBR drivers decide to support strike against "Platon"

More than a hundred drivers from the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) will take part in the strike organized by the "Association of Russian Carriers" (ARC) against the "Platon" system, which is scheduled for December, said Zaurbek Babgoev, the head of the KBR's branch of the ARC.

In spring this year, KBR drivers already took part in the action against the "Platon" system.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that since May 21, truckers many Russian regions, including southern ones, have been holding protests in Moscow. 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.

According to Babgoev, more than a hundred drivers intend to take part in the protest; several trucks will be parked on the highway near Nalchik, and several – in the highway in Baksan. The rest of the trucks will stay in car parks.

Mr Babgoev has added that the strikers' demands are the same: a complete abolition of the "Platon" system and a dialogue with the government of the Russian Federation on their problems.

The Coordinating Council has circulated their appeal through the Whatsapp and in social networks explaining the reasons for a new protest action.

"Our protests couldn't stop the plundering 'Platon' system. It has failed to gain momentum and operate at full capacity, but it has not gone anywhere," the appeal says.

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