Putin's words fail to affect truckers' commitment to struggle against "Platon"

The fight against the "Platon" system will continue, although Putin's proposal to abolish the vehicle tax and introduce seasonal patents looks interesting, Volgograd truckers who stay near Moscow believe. According to their story, on December 18, they plan to go home.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that truckers from the Volgograd Region are actively defending their position against the "Platon" system.

Today during his press conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the owners of heavy trucks, who pay by means of the "Platon" system for their use of federal highways, should be exempt from the vehicle tax.

According to his version, this respective decision may be made in early 2016. Putin also suggested that the Cabinet of Ministers should consider an option to switch truckers over to specific patents, which will give them the right to travel on highways.

At the same time, Putin has stated that many truckers prefer not to get registered as individual entrepreneurs. He also noted that he had discussed the issue with the Ombudsperson Ella Pamfilova.

Alexei Ulyanov, the coordinator of Volgograd truckers, remarks that Putin said nothing about the abolition of the "Platon" system, adding that he "did not feel any support of his colleagues from near Moscow."

Truckers themselves have noted that "they had expected more from Putin's statements."

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