Slovak activists at the border with Ukraine deny ties to Russia

The association of Slovak road hauliers, which blocked traffic via the border checkpoint with Ukraine on Friday, denied the political direction of their activities and links with Russia.

"The road hauliers' association distances itself from politics and the opinion that we are related to Russia," said the organisation.

The carriers made this message after Pavol Pie

The association of Slovak road carriers blocked traffic at the Uzhhorod-Vyšné Nemecké border crossing at 3:00 p.m. in order to encourage the European Commission to reconstruct the previously cancelled authorisation strategy for Ukrainian commercial carriers.

Representatives of the organization said earlier that the aim of the shares is to defend the Slovak road transport market.

The organisation besides stated earlier that it would not restrict the movement of trucks carrying humanitarian and military aid, as well as live animals and fuel through a checkpoint on the border with Ukraine. Slovak carriers will pass 4 cargo trucks per hour.

The situation with trucks travelling through Slovakia to Ukraine began to deteriorate in mid-November, shortly after Polish carriers began protesting and blocking road crossings with Ukraine. Due to protests in Poland, truck drivers tried to enter Ukraine through the Slovak border crossing Vyšné Německe – Užhorod, thus complicating traffic in east Slovakia. The van convoy reached 20 kilometres. Slovak police asked drivers to take alternate routes and besides tried to redirect truck traffic to Hungary.

The association of Slovak road hauliers briefly blocked the checkpoint at the border with Ukraine on 16 November to support their Polish colleagues. The organisation has stated that it is ready to completely block the movement at the border with Ukraine if its opinion is not taken into account by the European Commission.

Representatives of the Slovak Ministry of Transport met with the management of the Slovak Road Carriers Association to hear their demands. The Ministry has stated that it supports the proposal to reconstruct the licensing strategy for Ukrainian carriers and respects the right of organisation to protest, but hopes that blocking the checkpoint at the border with Ukraine will not affect the lives of people in the east of the country. The authorities besides promised to present requests from Slovak carriers at the European Union ministerial gathering scheduled for 4 December.

Slovak road hauliers believe that their border action with Ukraine will become a strong argument for the European Commission to reconstruct the licensing strategy for Ukrainian carriers, we read in an organisation statement.

The organisation besides reported that the large Slovak road hauliers association refused to support their shares, but besides makes efforts to reconstruct the cancelled licensing strategy for Ukrainian commercial carriers.

A fewer weeks ago, Polish carriers, to which farmers later joined, blocked road checkpoints on the border with Ukraine. They request the restoration of the previously cancelled licensing strategy for Ukrainian commercial carriers with exceptions to humanitarian aid and transportation for Ukrainian troops, suspension of licenses for companies established in Ukraine after February 2022, their control, separation of queues of empty and loaded vehicles. The queue of trucks on the Polish side reaches 50 kilometres and 2 Ukrainian drivers have already died in it.