A former Russian minister turned US truck driver says he earns as much now as he did as an official. Denis Sharonov fled Russia last year and has spent the last six months driving a truck. They say I downshifted, from a regional minister to truck driver." But Sharonov insisted his decision to work as a truck driver was about "feeling free" and doing an "honest job". "Working as a truck driver seemed like the most straightforward way to make a living," he said, adding: "I am proud of what I do."

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Persons: Denis Sharonov, Sharonov, Sharonov didn't Organizations: Service, Guardian Locations: Russian, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Komi Republic, Mexico