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Kremlin claims there was no string pulling in Platon system operator choice

The fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin is familiar with the businessman Arkady Rotenberg did not help Rotenberg’s son Igor in obtaining the right to operate the Platon tolling system

Truck drivers protesting against the Platon system Vladimir Smirnov/TASS

Truck drivers protesting against the Platon system

© Vladimir Smirnov/TASS

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MOSCOW, December 3. /TASS/. The fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin is familiar with the businessman Arkady Rotenberg did not help Rotenberg’s son Igor in obtaining the right to operate the Platon heavy haulers tolling system. "No, this did not help," press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

Rostec corporation, the Federal Road Transport Agency and the Ministry of Transport should be approached for comments on circumstances of the contract award to RT-Invest Transport Systems, the Platon system operator, Peskov said. "The Kremlin is not dealing with that," he added.

Igor Rotenberg, the son of Arkady Rotenberg reported to be familiar with the Russian President, holds 50% in RT-Invest Transport Systems. Another 50% are held by RT Invest, an investment arm of the state-owned Rostec corporation. Platon heavy haulers tolling system is owned by the state and the operator dals with its servicing in accordance with the concession agreement.

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