Russians Voice Support as Truckers' Protest Jams Road

Russians Voice Support as Truckers' Protest Jams Road

MOSCOW—

A massive traffic jam formed Friday on Moscow's Ring Road after police blocked a column of truckers driving at low speed to protest a doubling of road tolls¹, as well as high fines for not paying.

Normally loyal to authorities, drivers now worry about making a living. Some blame the increased rates on corrupt² elites³ connected to the Kremlin. 

"It's a very important sign that more and more social groups in Russian society became frustrated⁴ with the current situation and policies of Vladimir Putin's government,” said Vladimir Milov, head of the Democratic Choice party. “So, that is a remarkable⁵ turnaround. You see many, many people becoming more and more affected⁶, those who previously⁷ didn't really pay attention."

Russians in the capital voiced support for the truckers.

"I think they're acting⁸ bravely,” said student Arseny Krutov. “Absolutely everyone can agree on this. However, regular citizens can suffer, too, from traffic jams. There are already many in Moscow."

Yuri Bogomolov, an art critic, also backed the protesting drivers.

"It's not only a matter of the government's honor but it's selfishness as well,” he said, “to fill the holes in the budget stemming from the two wars in Ukraine and Syria. They're being filled at the expense of common people."

Pensioner⁹ Marina Oleshko agreed.

"I support the truck drivers,” she said, “because I think it's too expensive for them."

Russian truckers have disrupted federal motorways¹⁰ for weeks, demanding the fares be reduced. But progress may be a long way off.

“… You have to turn this big, rusty¹¹ wheel to convert this to a meaningful political process,” Milov said. “I think, so far, we are kind of far from that."

But supporters hope the stand that truckers are taking — Russia's largest industrial action in years — will help people focus on the country’s systemic problems of political decision-making and accountability.

1 tolls   

（缓慢而有规律的）钟声( toll的名词复数 )； 通行费； 损耗； （战争、灾难等造成的）毁坏

参考例句：

• A man collected tolls at the gateway. 一个人在大门口收通行费。
• The long-distance call tolls amount to quite a sum. 长途电话费数目相当可观。

2 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

3 elites   

精华( elite的名词复数 )； 精锐； 上层集团； （统称）掌权人物

参考例句：

• The elites are by their nature a factor contributing to underdevelopment. 这些上层人物天生是助长欠发达的因素。
• Elites always detest gifted and nimble outsiders. 社会名流对天赋聪明、多才多艺的局外人一向嫌恶。

4 frustrated   

adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
• The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

6 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

7 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

8 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

9 pensioner   

n.领养老金的人

参考例句：

• The tax threshold for a single pensioner is$ 445.单身领退休年金者的纳税起点为445英镑。
• It was the pensioner's vote late in the day that influenced the election of Mr.Sweet.最后是领取养老金者的选票影响了斯威特先生的当选。

10 motorways   

n.高速公路( motorway的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Most of Britain's motorways radiated from London. 英国的大多数公路从伦敦向四方延伸。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Cuba is well served by motorways. 古巴的高速公路四通八达。 来自辞典例句

11 rusty   

adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的

参考例句：

• The lock on the door is rusty and won't open.门上的锁锈住了。
• I haven't practiced my French for months and it's getting rusty.几个月不用，我的法语又荒疏了。