Except for the ruling United Russia party, all of Russian parliament has come out in support of the truck drivers protesting the new Platon truck taxation system that was introduced on Nov. 15, the Vedomosti newspaper reported Wednesday.
Deputies from the Communist Party of Russia said they were planning to stage a countrywide demonstration in support of the truckers on Dec. 5, Vedomosti reported.
The Communists have introduced a draft bill proposing to freeze the collection of the fee until Nov. 1, 2017, deputy Valery Rashkin said, Vedomosti reported.
The remaining two parties, the left-of-center A Just Russia and the nationalist far-right Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, have put forward similar proposals.
Members of the liberal opposition have also expressed support for some of the protest actions. The lawyer, anti-corruption blogger and former Moscow mayoral candidate Alexei Navalny has offered to print leaflets to help the Dagestani drivers who are planning to demonstrate in the capital on Nov. 30, Vedomosti said.
Duma deputies have proposed a consideration of abolishing Russia's regional transport taxes following the introduction of the new system, the Kommersant newspaper said Wednesday.
United Russia deputies have expressed support for the idea, which had earlier been mooted by President Vladimir Putin, Kommersant reported.
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