Russia's trucker protests, known as Plato or Platon, continue to grow and intensify, despite Kremlin attempts to defuse them. Thousands of Russian long-haul truckers have taken part in the protests over the past three weeks, demanding that the government repeal a tax hike on the use of federal highways. The truckers claim that cost increses due to the tax will push some 600,000 drivers out of their jobs. Protests are taking two forms: Some truckers are striking and others are creating protest camps in various cities.

Some level of protest has been registered in 80 of Russia's 85 regions. In 34 regions, the protests have caused supply problems. Russia's Society for the Protection of Consumer Rights has received hundreds of complaints from stores that are not receiving some food stocks or other basic goods. In addition, prices are rising on consumer products in many regions.

This week, reports have surfaced of supply disruptions in the Chita region, Russia's primary transit hub for Chinese imports. In addition, according to rumors, some Russian regional authorities are considering hiring Chinese truckers to replace the striking Russian ones.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev has met with trucking unions twice in the past few weeks and even acknowledged that the groups have a legitimate complaint. However, the Kremlin has yet to actually address the demands of the truckers or move to rescind the tax hike. In fact, the Kremlin is starting to crack down on the protests. The demonstrations will move to Moscow this weekend with plans to disrupt traffic throughout the capital. But the city's police have already started blocking truckers' access to the capital. In other cities where authorities have moved to break up protest convoys, violent clashes between police and truckers have resulted.

There are concerns that the trucker protests could unite with the All-Russia protests like those staged a few weeks ago against corruption and the stagnant economy. All-Russia plans to hold additional protests in the months to come, and if that group is able to effectively coordinate with the trucker protests, the demonstrations could expand significantly. Regardless, supply chain disruptions and rising prices caused by the trucker demonstrations will feed into calls for the Kremlin to offer economic and financial relief.