The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry has filed a complaint with its Russian counterpart, voicing concerns over the controversial Platon truck tax system newly imposed in Russia, regional news website DELFI reported Thursday, citing the BNS news agency.
Lithuanian transportation companies has been experiencing problems following the launch of Platon as it resulted in truck queues at Russia-Lithuania border checkpoints, the ministry said.
The new electronic system of payment left Lithuanian carriers at a clear disadvantage, the Lithuanian ministry said, DELFI reported.
Russia's new truck tax is in violation of Lithuanian-Russian agreements on cooperation in the transport sphere and international automobile traffic signed in 1992 and 1993, the ministry noted.
The Platon truck levy system has been operating in Russia since Nov. 15, and aims to collect tolls from drivers of trucks weighing 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.
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