The gasoline crisis has forced some Makhachkalans to give up their cars.
AI-95 in Makhachkala can be purchased at a price of 130-150 rubles, while a lot of time is spent searching for an open gas station, Makhachkalans complained. According to them, they are increasingly having to give up using their cars — primarily due to the high cost of fuel. Despite the promises of the republic's authorities, prices are not decreasing, and many gas stations remain closed.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot" on August 30, residents of Dagestan expressed their outrage online that prices for gasoline continue to rise in the republic: at several gas stations, the price of a liter of AI-95 reached 149 rubles. Drivers reported closed gas stations and queues of dozens of cars in Makhachkala and Kaspiysk. Most of the previously closed gas stations in Makhachkala and Kaspiysk have eliminated violations, and the resumption of their operations will be discussed, the Dagestan government informed.
The situation with gas station operations in Makhachkala has not improved
A correspondent for "Caucasian Knot" on September 3 visited six gas stations located on the central streets of Makhachkala – Shamil and Akushinsky avenues, Ismailov Street.
Five of them were closed, including the "Asko" gas station, which had been operating until recently. One was selling only gas at 45 rubles, with a queue of 20 cars.
Makhachkalans complained about high prices
Residents of Makhachkala confirmed to the correspondent of "Caucasian Knot" that fuel prices are high.
On August 26, a Makhachkalan Nasir, who works in the field of technical repair services, told the correspondent of "Caucasian Knot" that AI-95 gasoline had risen to 170 rubles per liter, but fuel is not available even at that price.
On September 3, he reported that he filled up with this type of gasoline at 150 rubles.
“Many gas stations are closed, I found one, waited in line for about 20 minutes. It takes a lot of time to search for them, online services often show inaccurate information,” said a Makhachkalan.
Another resident of Makhachkala, 45-year-old Artur, previously reported the closure of the remaining open gas stations. On August 26, he said that gas had risen to 43 rubles, and it is hard to find.
“Yesterday I found a working gas station with gas, the queue was about 30 cars. I filled up at 45 rubles. This is very expensive, gas has significantly increased in price,” says Artur.
People in the queues are very worried, waiting for another wave of price increases and shortages
“I filled up with gas at 45 rubles, waited for about 35 minutes. I didn’t search for a gas station around the city, I knew that there was gas there during the height of the crisis, so I went there. The number of closed gas stations, in my opinion, has decreased, but people in the queues are very worried, waiting for another wave of price increases and shortages,” said 60-year-old university lecturer from Makhachkala Sazhid.
A small grocery store owner Magomed said that the last time he filled up with AI-92 gasoline was about 5 days ago at 130 rubles, but now he leaves his car at home, as the high price affects the family budget.
“In the last week, bread has risen by 10 rubles. The price of a carton of eggs (eggs packaged in 30 pieces - note from "Caucasian Knot"), which cost 220 rubles a month ago, has now risen to 340 rubles. Deliverers say this may be related to the increase in gasoline prices,” says the entrepreneur.
I send my children by minibus, then pick them up also without a car. The authorities promised to solve the fuel problem, but nothing changes
A budget sector worker Kamila said that she had been taking her two children to school and picking them up by car until now.
“The day before yesterday, I filled up with gasoline at 145 rubles, which is very expensive. Now I send my children by minibus, then pick them up also without a car. The authorities promised to solve the fuel problem, but nothing changes,” she lamented.
The promised compromise with gas station owners, announced after their meeting with the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Dagestan, is not noticeable, says an entrepreneur working in the IT sector Rustam.
The fuel shortage, which significantly affects the socio-political situation, certainly impacts the image of the new leadership of the republic, with which high expectations were initially associated
“For a while, prices fell, then rose again. The fuel shortage, which significantly affects the socio-political situation, certainly impacts the image of the new leadership of the republic, with which high expectations were initially associated. In my circle, some people are disappointed that the authorities, despite the existing objective reasons, cannot stabilize this situation yet,” says Rustam.
The opinions expressed are not a representative survey and reflect only the private opinion of those interviewed.
About 7,500 tons of fuel of all types are located at closed gas stations and their associated storage bases, but a significant portion of these reserves is actually out of retail circulation due to the suspension of activities of certain facilities, the Union of Entrepreneurs of Dagestan reported in its Telegram channel.
“The head of Dagestan, Fyodor Shchukin, instructed to complete the work on eliminating identified violations as soon as possible and ensure the resumption of operations of those gas stations that have met the established legal requirements. This is an important decision in the current situation. At the same time, it is not about opening facilities that truly pose a threat. It is about quickly and legally returning to operation those stations that have eliminated violations and are ready to operate safely,” the publication states.