Menyaylo's assessment of the situation at gas stations did not match the observations of residents of North Ossetia.
Sergey Menyaylo stated that in North Ossetia, fuel prices are twice as low as in Kabardino-Balkaria. Residents of North Ossetia, commenting on his words on social media, pointed out that the actual prices at gas stations are significantly higher. They also complained about queues at gas stations and the lack of gasoline in the evening.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", earlier the authorities of North Ossetia reported that the republic has enough fuel reserves to fully meet the demand for it. Local residents, commenting on this report from the authorities on social media, demanded that instead of demonstrating figures, they ensure the availability of gasoline at gas stations. They also complained about the rising cost of fuel.
The head of North Ossetia Sergey Menyaylo stated that the situation with the fuel crisis in the republic is much more favorable than in neighboring regions. "We have queues, but the situation is a bit better than even in neighboring regions. Today, I take a snapshot of the media field: the price in the neighboring republic, Kabardino-Balkaria, is 150 rubles, while ours is 69," he said in footage published by Iryston TV.
A video of Menyaylo's statement on July 19 was also posted by the Instagram public chp_vladikavkaz. Residents of North Ossetia, commenting on this post, compared the prices announced by the head of the republic with the actual cost of fuel at gas stations.
"100 rubles – no queue, 65 – a queue a kilometer long," said a comment from barbargazdanova.
"It's funny to hear. I filled up for 90," noted user irattarazma.
"What is he talking about, what 64 or 70? At the gas station "Bars" near the Living Satellite, AI-95 costs 99 rubles per liter," pointed out in a comment by khub_etsov_01.
Commentators reported the lack of gasoline in the evening and long waits at gas stations. "In the evening, there was absolutely no gasoline anywhere," noted fagard99.
"We have huge queues, as there were, so they are. I stood in line for three hours yesterday," wrote cosmetolog_tyrnyauz.
"The queue started at 07:00. I was already the tenth in line. The gas station opened at 08:30. However, the girls at the gas station are great, they filled everyone up clearly and quickly. I waited another 20 minutes to get to the pump," shared elenaoganesova.
Users provided various observations about the availability and cost of fuel in neighboring regions. "Come on, it's worse in neighboring republics – you made me laugh. My husband works in Ingushetia and fills up his car there: there are no queues like ours, and they don't raise prices," noted lazeroxana_vld.
"True, in neighboring republics, gasoline is more expensive and there is more shortage. I returned two days ago," noted leksrso.
"In Kabardino-Balkaria, there are also prices of 70 rubles and, like us, there are also queues. And there are prices of 125, 135, and 150, but without queues," pointed out h.amirbekyan.
Commentators called on supervisory authorities to stop violations by gas station owners. "If there are violations, they must certainly be eliminated. But the question is: where were the supervisory authorities before the fuel crisis? Why did they suddenly remember this now? Now it needs to be resolved somehow without stopping the gas stations," wrote iperisaev.
"I hope inspections will help stabilize the situation at gas stations," said a comment from djioeva.madi.
"Why don't gas stations operate at night? There would be fewer queues during the day," noted user dt75337.
Recall that on July 15, residents of North Ossetia reported that they continue to face a shortage of gasoline at major network gas stations. Some drivers spend several hours in queues to refuel at federal network gas stations, while others prefer to buy more expensive fuel at private gas stations, where there are practically no queues.
The cost of gasoline at commercial gas stations is in some cases almost twice as high, motorists noted. In their opinion, the introduction of a system of refueling on even and odd days could reduce queues.