Residents of Makhachkala reported an increase in gasoline prices.
Gasoline AI-95 has risen in price in Makhachkala to 170 rubles per liter, but even at this price, it is difficult to find at gas stations, a local resident told the correspondent of "Caucasian Knot". Drivers reported closed gas stations and queues of dozens of cars in Makhachkala and Kaspiysk.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on August 17, out of 10 gas stations surveyed by the correspondent on Akushinsky Avenue in Makhachkala, only two were operational. The head of the Union of Entrepreneurs of Dagestan, Magomed Abakarov, reported that out of 104 officially registered gas stations in Makhachkala, 83 were closed. According to him, specialists have recorded the beginning of a second wave of the fuel crisis, which could be particularly painful for Dagestan, as the republic has no oil refining capacities and is completely dependent on external supplies.
In Makhachkala, gasoline AI-95 has risen to 170 rubles per liter, but fuel is not available even at this price, a local resident Nasir told the correspondent of "Caucasian Knot". He noted that searching for a working gas station took him a lot of time.
"Almost all gas stations are closed, I drove around half the city," said a Makhachkala resident.
Another resident of Makhachkala, Arthur, reported the closure of the remaining open gas stations. He was unable to find either gasoline or automotive gas.
"The gas stations that were still operating in the city have already closed. Earlier, at least gas was available, now it has risen to 43 rubles, and it cannot be found. I drove around all morning, couldn't refuel," he told the correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".
A Makhachkala resident Murat had to spend more than an hour at a gas station. "Yesterday I stood in line for over an hour to refuel. There were about 50 cars in line," he reported to the correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".
A queue of dozens of cars for gasoline in Kaspiysk outraged one local resident.
"Kaspiysk. Queue for gasoline. When will they stop this mockery of the people?" wrote a reader of "Chernovik". His comment was published by the publication.
Another long queue was recorded at a gas station in Makhachkala.
"This is a queue on Shamil Avenue, Makhachkala, gas station," wrote a subscriber of "Chernovik", who sent a video of the queue to the publication's editorial office.
At around 20:00 MSK on August 25, about 40 cars were in line at this gas station, reported the correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".
Another driver reported the lack of fuel and long queues at gas stations in Manas.
"It's better not to go to Manas – there is no fuel at the gas stations, and the queues of cars are such that it seems like everyone has their own gas station in their yard. Drivers continue to search for gasoline against the backdrop of the fuel frenzy," said a statement from a car owner, which was cited by the Telegram channel "Atypical Makhachkala".
The return of shortages after a brief drop in prices raised questions for one of the residents of Makhachkala regarding the work of relevant officials.
"For a week, the prices for gasoline and gas in Dagestan were reduced by 10-15%, and today everything is gone – there is no gasoline for 100 rubles, no for 150 rubles, no for 200. What to do next? Are all the gas station owners going to be imprisoned? Will cases be opened against them? Will the remaining gas stations be closed? And then what, will gasoline appear?" wrote a Makhachkala resident, whose appeal was cited by "Chernovik".
He criticized the officials. "Why should I sit at 1 AM and think about what the relevant officials should do to prevent what happened today in Makhachkala and Kaspiysk? I drove 40 km from Makhachkala to find gasoline. The day after tomorrow my 20 liters will run out, what to do next?" asked a resident of Makhachkala.
"There is no light, no gasoline, there is water, but only when there is light. There is gas, but in winter the pressure drops, and the boiler constantly goes into emergency mode. A cry from the heart of a father of two children," added a Makhachkala resident.
As of 11:10 MSK on August 26, there were no comments regarding the rise in prices and the lack of fuel at gas stations on the websites of the Ministry of Energy of Dagestan and the administration of Makhachkala.
Recall that on June 19, residents of Makhachkala complained about rising prices, the closure of gas stations, and restrictions on fuel sales to one person. Gas station owners linked the problems to difficulties in purchasing gasoline.
On August 1, the authorities announced inspections of closed gas stations in Makhachkala for their subsequent reopening. An inventory was planned to be conducted jointly with the Union of Entrepreneurs of Dagestan. On August 11, residents of the republic noted that a meeting between the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Dagestan and gas station owners did not lead to a noticeable decrease in gasoline prices.