Gukovo miners complain to Putin's electoral office about coal shortage

At today's picket in Gukovo, miners told about the large coal consumption for heating houses in severe frost. They turned to the Rostov-on-Don office of the presidential candidate Vladimir Putin for help in providing them with the so-called "ration coal".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that because of closed mines, almost the entire population of Gukovo occurred in distress – people have no jobs, and, accordingly, livelihoods; but utility tariffs are very high, and many residents have no coal for heating their homes.

The today's Gukovo picket was held near the Culture Palace of the "Rostovskaya" Mine. There were a total of 51 picketers; and the coal was the main point: they have stated that the frosty weather had set in the Rostov Region; at night the temperature had dropped down to minus 20 degrees centigrade; and they need more coal to warm up their houses, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

Mikhail Khozyainkov, a picketer, has complained that after he retired in 2016, he received his due ration coal only once – two tons last year. "I had worked in the coal industry for 37 years; and now I have to go to collect coal along the railway line – the one that drops down from the cars, or dig coal from old abandoned mines, or gather firewood in the vicinity, just not to get frozen," the man said.

Today at the picket, miners also decided to send their appeal for help in receiving the ration coal to the electoral office of the presidential candidate Vladimir Putin. They have expressed hope that if at least 200 people call the office, their complaints will reach the president, and he will surely help them.

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