24 January 2012, 21:00
The Ministry of Transport came to terms with the protesting taxi drivers
On January, 23, the Ministry of Transport of Azerbaijan cancelled the limitations concerning the age of cars for their use as taxicabs. This decision was taken after the actions of protest the owners of taxis held in Baku.
Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" reported that after the Ministry of Transport enacted the regulations toughening the conditions of licensing the activities of taxi drivers, in particular, limiting the age of cars to five years, a series of the drivers' protest actions passed off in Baku. The last action held on January, 19, was suppressed by the police, about twenty persons were detained and two sentenced to administrative arrest.
During the protest actions representatives of the Ministry of Transport declared that the standards enacted were not temporary ones. However, later they were reviewed.
"Now the limitations on the terms of production of cars to get licenses for work in the "Taxi" service of the capital have been canceled", 1news.az quotes Head of Press service of the Ministry Nimag Gasanov.
At the same time, the licenses will be given only to foreign made cars of white colour equipped with taximeters as it was declared earlier.
Russian made cars over five years old will not be allowed for use as taxis. Gasanov added that it was an "ultimate" decision, Аbc.az reports.
It was not specified whether the limitation concerned only Russian makes of cars or any cars made in Russia, including those assembled in the plants of the leading foreign automobile concerns.
The new regulations came into effect since January, 23.
