Moscow cab drivers jack prices after blasts
Published On Mon Mar 29 2010
In the aftermath of two subway attacks, Muscovites focused their anger on local cab drivers.
The attacks, which occurred within about an hour of each other during the Monday morning rush hour, forced tens of thousands of commuters into the streets. Immediately, cab drivers began charging as much as 3,000 rubles ($100) for short trips around the city, according to the Russian Information Agency Novosti.
According to many who jumped on Twitter to protest the increase, that’s as much as 10 times the normal rate.
The cash-grab drew a rebuke from Russian prime minster Vladimir Putin.
“I want to call on representatives of the small and medium-sized businesses, working in the transport sector. I ask you not to abuse this situation, inflate prices or create additional difficulties, but to express solidarity with those in trouble and in need of your support,” Putin told a press conference Monday afternoon.
Less than eight hours after the blasts, the Moscow subway was up and running again, presumably robbing the unscrupulous of their brief bonanza.
Source; http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/787009
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