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Arson Attempt at Controversial Truck Tax Office

Another Platon office was set on fire in the city of Tolyatti in Central Russia on Nov. 13. Andrei Makhonin / Vedomosti

An arson attempt was made on a Platon office — the new truck levy causing nationwide discontent — in the Urals city of Orenburg, the local Vestirama.ru news agency reported Wednesday.

The offenders attempted to set the office door on fire but a number of guards intercepted. Several shots from a pistol were fired at the office.

The attack was reported to local police at 5 a.m. The local police have already opened a criminal case into the incident, according to police spokesman Andrei Zryachkin

Platon representatives declined to comment to Vestirama.ru.

Another Platon office was set on fire in the city of Tolyatti in Central Russia on Nov. 13, Znak.com online newspaper reported.

The Platon system has been in operation since Nov. 15. It has sparked large-scale trucker protests in Russia's regions. Truck drivers attempted to stage a protest march in Moscow on Nov. 30 but trucks heading for Moscow were repeatedly intercepted by the police and several protest coordinators were detained and fined.

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