The administrator of the minus route No. 155 Afanasie Smochin has told IPN that not he initiated the drivers’ strike, but the drivers who refuse to work owing to the increasing pressure exerted by the police and the low minibus fares.

“The drivers are afraid that because of the fines imposed on them, they wall lose their driver’s licenses. That’s why they chose not to work. I cannot say how long the negotiations with them will last. But it’s impossible working with a fare of 3 lei. We have spoken about this problem for three years. The minibus drivers do not have villas and luxury cars. They are ordinary people who want to survive,” said the administrator.

Afanasie Smochin also said that after the July 2 road accident that involved a minibus running on route No. 155, the police inspections increased in number. This morning, a number of police officers made raids at the termini of a number of minibuses, where they imposed fines and confiscated license plates. “I feel pity for the people because I will have to dismiss 400 employees who will go to work in Russia or the EU. The drivers told me that they do not want to continue work in the present conditions,” he stated.

There are 34 minibuses on route No. 155. According to a communiqué of the Chisinau City Hall, the General Public Transport and Communications Division ordered modifying the public transport network following the arbitrary halt in the work of minibuses No. 155.  The number of trolleybuses No. 13, 23 and 24 and of buses No. 5 and 23 was raised and the routes of some of them were extended.

If the drivers of other minibus routes join the strike, the General Public Transport and Communications Division will institute other changes so as to make sure that the passengers have the necessary units of transport.