The authorities' report on the decrease in fuel prices has caused skepticism among drivers from Dagestan.

In a week, gasoline in Dagestan has decreased by more than one percent, reported Rosstat. Local drivers, commenting on this report on social media, stated that at gas stations gasoline costs 125–130 rubles per liter, and it has risen much more than it has fallen. They also criticized the work of the antimonopoly service.

As reported by “Caucasian Knot”, according to Rosstat data as of October 1, the average price of gasoline in Dagestan was 124.18 rubles per liter – higher than in other regions of the North Caucasian Federal District, and residents of the republic demanded specific measures from the authorities to reduce prices. From early June to August 24, the average price of gasoline in Dagestan increased by 46.2%, to 102.25 rubles per liter, Rosstat previously reported. Residents of the republic considered this data to be understated. On August 28, the head of Dagestan, Fyodor Shchukin, instructed to create an operational headquarters to monitor fuel supplies and prices, but residents doubted the effectiveness of these measures.

Dagestan was among seven regions of Russia where gasoline prices decreased by more than 1% in the week from October 6 to 12, reported RIA “Novosti” on October 14, citing Rosstat data. In addition to Dagestan, such a decrease was recorded in Ingushetia, Mordovia, Karachay-Cherkessia, Sevastopol, Perm Krai, and Murmansk Oblast. Overall, gasoline prices fell in 31 regions of Russia, most significantly in Crimea, by 5.24%, the agency stated.

This data was published on October 17 by the Instagram*-public hello_makhachkala, which has about 204 thousand followers. As of 12:50 Moscow time on October 18, this post received 69 likes and 77 comments. Commenters, identifying themselves as drivers from Dagestan, doubted that fuel prices had actually decreased.

“The 95th gasoline costs 130 rubles,” wrote aksakal__86.

“125 rubles. Cheaper?” asked dzhabrailovadil.

“One percent – is that a drop from 125 rubles to 125 rubles for the 95th which?” asked user iyyyyyyuyyyyy.

Other commenters compared the reported price decrease with the previous increase in fuel costs. “They raised it by 110%, but lowered it by 1%,” wrote magomedovgarunramazanovich.

“They raised it by 100%, but lowered it by 1% after three months,” noted aleksandrmerei.

“Technically everything is correct, they raised it by 100 rubles, lowered it by 10, you can't argue with that,” pointed out alekseialekseev8315.

Commenters questioned the work of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) in Dagestan. “Does FAS even work in Dagestan, or do they just get paid for nothing?” asked user s081890.

“They said they are powerless,” replied magomed78696. “FAS could be liquidated here, it's a useless office,” stated _umar_95__05.

Recall that on July 7, the association “Dagtoplivo” reported that gasoline in Dagestan had decreased by 25% in a month, however, residents doubted this data, stating that the prices at gas stations had not changed.

On August 9, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Dagestan, Abdurashid Magomedov, stated at a meeting with gas station owners that some market participants are unjustifiably raising prices. On August 17, a correspondent from “Caucasian Knot” counted only two out of ten checked gas stations operating on Akushinsky Avenue in Makhachkala.

On September 29, the head of FAS in Dagestan, Kair Babaev, explained the high prices by unscheduled shutdowns of oil refineries, while drivers criticized the service for lack of results.