Support The Moscow Times!

Russian Transport Ministry Needs $123M to Sustain Truck Tax

Denis Grishkin / Vedomosti

The Russian Transport Ministry has requested 7.9 billion rubles ($123 million) of government funding to sustain the controversial Platon truck taxation system, according to a draft bill posted on the government portal of draft regulations.

The funds are to be included in the 2016 budget and allocated as investment, the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper reported Tuesday. Upon receipt of the funds, the ministry is to transfer the money to the Platon operator, RT-Invest Transport System.

Investment in the Platon system has already reached 30 billion rubles ($454 million), with 27 billion taken in credit from Gazprombank, Moskovsky Komsomolets reported.

The Platon truck tax has been operating in Russia since Nov. 15, and aims to collect money from drivers of trucks over 12 tons, as compensation for roadbed damage done by the heavy vehicles.

The introduction of Platon resulted in large scale protests staged by truck drivers around Russia, including Moscow and St. Petersburg. The Transport Ministry agreed to reduce taxation tariffs and fines for failing to pay the tax, but truck drivers continue to demand that the Platon system be cancelled entirely and Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov be fired.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more