Russia's Presidential Human Rights Council will intervene to help the resolve the conflict surrounding the new Platon truck tax system, according to its head Mikhail Fedotov, Interfax news agency reported Monday.
“The Presidential Council is worried by the situation caused by the introduction of the new system. We believe that a solution acceptable to all sides must be found,” Fedotov said.
The issue will be examined at the next meeting of the council on Dec. 9. Representatives of the truck drivers will be invited to participate.
The Platon truck tax came into force on Nov. 15, and aims to tax drivers of trucks weighing more than 12 tons, as compensation for the damage done to the country's roads by the heavy vehicles.
The introduction of the tax resulted in large-scale protests by truck drivers around Russia, including in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
The Transport Ministry agreed to reduce taxation tariffs and fines for failing to pay the tax, and several meetings between officials and the protesters took place, but the truck drivers continue to demand that the Platon system be scrapped.
