The first Orthodox Christian Cossack taxi service in Russia will soon start operating in St. Petersburg.
One of the reasons the Cossack taxi service was introduced in the northern capital is the large number of illegal taxi drivers from Central Asia on the city's streets, said Andrei Polyakov, head of the Orthodox Cossack union Irbis.
They are a danger for city residents, do not pay taxes and interfere with the work of legitimate taxi drivers, Polyakov said, Interfax reported.
He added that out of 700 members of Irbis, about 200 are retired servicemen who are not permanently employed and are ready to work as taxi drivers.
The new taxi service will work predominantly in residential districts of St. Petersburg.
“We are currently completing registration, while the taxi cabs, which will have their own markings on the sides and the hood, are being tuned up,” the head of the Cossack union said.
The new taxi service hopes to be able to start serving St. Petersburg residents at the end of the month or by late February at the very latest, Polyakov said.
He added that the new enterprise has received a blessing from an Orthodox priest, who is also a member of the Irbis Cossack union.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
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 every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
