Gukovo miners report receipt of 14 million roubles of salary debts

The promised payment of salary debts was made to 1000 miners from three companies of the "Kingcoal" Group, which unites 10 companies, the coordinators of miners' protests have reported. They noted that the authorities had offered to extend the repayment of debts until September 2017, to which protesters do not agree.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Vasily Golubev, the Governor of the Rostov Region, said that on December 21 the "Regional Development Corporation" resumed paying salary debts to "Kingcoal" workers.

As of December 27, 1000 miners received about 14 million roubles, said Valery Dyakonov, a coordinator of miners' protests.

However, debts are being paid to workers of three companies only – the Coal Companies (CCs) "Almaznaya", "Zamchalovsky Anthracite" and "Rostovgormash" – while the "Kingcoal" Group unites 10 companies, said Mr Dyakonov.

On December 26, officials suggested to pay 50 million roubles in December 2016 and in January 2017 each; and to obtain the rest of the money for debt repayment from the sale of the "Kingcoal" property, said Nikolai Nadkernichny, another coordinator of protests.

He added that miners have accrued debts for housing and communal services; and they have to repay loans; therefore, it is vital for them not to split the debts.

Also, according to his story, by the New Year, miners received only 400 tons of ration coal out of the promised 1000 tons.

The blocking of Gukovo miners was held on December 19-23, said Valery Dyakonov, adding that miners intend to continue protesting until the complete repayment of salary debts.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.