Volgograd residents linked the improvement in the gasoline situation to the upcoming elections.

Queues at gas stations in Volgograd have decreased since today, and there are more working gas stations in the city, residents reported. The death of a pensioner in line for gasoline is being discussed among drivers. If the death was preceded by a conflict with gas station employees or they refused to refuel without waiting in line in case of entitlement to a benefit, gas station workers may be held accountable, emphasized the lawyer.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", the gasoline situation in the Volgograd region is getting worse, in recent days queues have turned into hours-long waits, and some motorists leave their cars in line overnight.

On September 10, a correspondent from "Caucasian Knot" surveyed drivers in Volgograd. The survey is not representative and reflects only the private opinions of respondents.

Interviewees reported that the tension of the fuel crisis in Volgograd began to ease in the morning. For instance, a resident of the Central district of Volgograd Olga Kitaeva and her husband were able to refuel their car in the morning of September 10 at a gas station located on Pakhomenko Street.

"There is still gasoline there now. But a long queue has formed – at least 50 cars are definitely standing. But it has become better today with fuel. Everyone is noting this. There are no such crazy queues and so many closed gas stations as yesterday, for example," the woman said.

According to Olga, the price of fuel in Volgograd has increased again over the past week: the price of A-92 grade rose by 23 kopecks (to 67.60 rubles per liter), A-95 – by 26 kopecks (to 75.17 rubles per liter), and diesel fuel increased by 15 kopecks.

I have neither the strength nor the time to stand in endless queues. Two days ago, I stood in line for 11 hours.

A resident of the Krasnoarmeysky district Dmitry stated that he started refueling without waiting in line at those gas stations where gasoline (A-95) is sold for 120–130 rubles per liter.

"I have neither the strength nor the time to stand in endless queues. Two days ago, I stood in line for 11 hours. That's it. I've had enough. I filled up the tank and am saving. I try not to drive the car for trivial matters. Only if something urgent comes up," Dmitry explained.

It has become easier to refuel. The situation has improved since today. Apparently, they are preparing for the elections.

Dmitry also mentioned that two hours ago he was returning from the Kirovsky district to Krasnoarmeysky and saw that there was gasoline at the Lukoil gas stations on Lazorevaya Street, and the queues there, according to him, were small. However, at the Teboil and Gazprom gas stations, there was no gasoline. Also, gasoline was freely sold without queues at the Rosneft gas station located on Cooperative Street.

A resident of the district center Ilovlya Zhanna Kurilkova reported that gasoline is sold at local gas stations and on the federal highway. The queues there are small.

"Lukoil and TNK sell (gasoline). On the 'Caspian' highway, there is gasoline at the Lukoil gas stations near Ilovlya. But there is none at Loga. However, they promised that fuel would be delivered there soon. Overall, it has become easier to refuel. The situation has improved since today. Everyone is noting this. Apparently, they are preparing for the elections. What will happen after the elections is unclear," the woman noted.

The death of a pensioner at a gas station outraged drivers

Olga Kitaeva reported that she learned about the death of the pensioner at the gas station from local media reports. This incident has sparked discussions among the woman’s acquaintances who are motorists.

"It is clear that everyone expresses condolences to the relatives of the pensioner. Everyone understands perfectly that if it weren't for this fuel crisis, the person would be alive. But I wouldn't blame the motorists who didn't let him to the gas pump without waiting in line and the gas station employees. It's unlikely that the victim had a disability certificate or a Hero of Russia certificate. Who would believe him that he had the right to refuel without waiting in line? I am sure there were many pensioners in that queue," Olga said.

Dmitry, who lives in the Krasnoarmeysky district of the regional center, noted that there are many "white spots" in the report about the death of the pensioner in line at the gas station.

"Everyone has first aid kits in their cars. I think there was a first aid kit at the gas station too. They could have provided the person with first aid and promptly called an ambulance. Apparently, that’s what they did there. But the attack turned out to be more serious than just fainting," Dmitry said.

Volgograd historian Andrey Kudинов recounted that he witnessed when a woman in line at one of the Volgograd gas stations "felt unwell".

"Everyone rushed to help her. While the gas station employee was calling an ambulance, the drivers helped her regain consciousness (with the help of ammonia), gave her water to take her pills. When the ambulance arrived, the woman got into their car on her own," Kudинов said.

According to Kudинов, the fuel crisis in the region may exacerbate the health issues of motorists standing in "endless queues".

"If you have health problems and cannot get stressed, just try not to get into these queues (at gas stations). Stay home under the supervision of relatives and doctors," the interlocutor advised.

A 30-year-old resident of Volzhsky Nikolai Zuev believes that the prolonged fuel crisis is "approaching its collapse".

"My mother told me that in the hungry 1980s, people lost consciousness in queues for food. Now they are dying in queues at gas stations. This means that things are really bad in our country, and we need to draw conclusions during the elections," Zuev said.

If the deceased was a first or second group disabled person, he had priority rights to service at the gas station, noted lawyer Sergey Ivashchenko, referring to the still-valid Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 1157 (from 1992, amended in 2021).

"Gas stations are commercial enterprises mentioned in the decree I referred to. They are obliged to serve disabled people of these groups, disabled children, and their accompanying persons without waiting in line. If the deceased was disabled, he just needed to show his ID and a medical-social expert certificate indicating his disability group. And that’s it. He could have easily refueled without waiting in line and without stress on legal grounds with the help of a gas station employee. Why didn’t this happen? Apparently, he was not disabled or forgot his documents at home," Sergey Ivashchenko explained.

It is necessary to document the violation – for example, a video recording.

If the deceased did attempt to refuel without waiting in line legally, having documents confirming his disability, the gas station employees may face both administrative (according to part 3 of article 14.8 of the Administrative Offenses Code of the Russian Federation) and civil liability if the relatives of the deceased try to claim moral damages from them in court.

"In this case, complaints can be made to Rospotrebnadzor, the prosecutor's office, and the gas station administration. But for this, it is still necessary to document the violation – for example, a video recording," Sergey Ivashchenko explained.