Truck drivers from Dagestan threaten to hold new protests

Although heavy truck drivers have won an authorities’ response to the problem of their discrimination in Iran, they are ready to stage new protest actions if the problems are not resolved quickly.

On October 13, drivers of more than 100 heavy trucks held a Manas-Makhachkala-Manas rally, claiming discrimination against Russian truck drivers in Iran. The protest action in Dagestan attracted the attention of the law enforcement bodies.

The rally caused a reaction from the authorities of Dagestan and the federal authorities, noted Islam, a participant of the rally.

The head of a large transport association of heavy truck drivers, which includes several thousand drivers, flew to Iran. He has discussed there the problems that truck drivers from Dagestan face at Iranian customs, including the problem of corruption, states truck driver Rashid.

The problem attracted the attention of Russian State Duma member Sultan Khamzaev. His assistant advised truck drivers to collect evidence that Iranian customs officers were violating the rights of the truck drivers from Dagestan.

The truck drivers should have a representative office or another body to protect their rights, emphasizes Isalmagomed Nabiev, the head of the Independent Trade Union of Entrepreneurs and Drivers of Dagestan. According to him, the truck drivers from Dagestan have not yet come to the point of uniting into a professional community to solve their problems.

Meanwhile, according to Isalmagomed Nabiev, residents of Dagestan, including truck drivers, are ready to unite into a community along ethnic or religious lines.