Drivers complained about queues for gasoline in North Ossetia.

Long queues for gasoline at network gas stations in North Ossetia persist against reports from officials about regular fuel supplies. Drivers reported that they have never seen students recruited by the authorities to maintain order at the gas stations.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on October 6, the authorities of North Ossetia reported the start of work by student volunteers at three gas stations in Vladikavkaz. The volunteers were supposed to help regulate traffic in queues and record traffic violations. Social media users doubted the effectiveness of this measure and also expressed concerns for the health of students and the observance of their rights.

Drivers complained about long queues

At federal network gas stations, drivers have to spend up to two hours in queues, a resident of North Ossetia Alan told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".

"At federal gas stations, the queue is about one and a half to two hours. I am not facing problems right now, as I can get gasoline at "Lukoil" through acquaintances. Mostly, gasoline is available at all gas stations, just the prices are different," he said.

According to Alan, other motorists have to adapt to the situation. He considers the main reason for the queues at network gas stations to be a shortage of gasoline amid increased demand.

He deemed the idea of involving volunteers to record traffic violations as unsuccessful. "This is not quite a successful idea, as recording traffic violations by volunteers will lead to conflict situations," he said.

Alan himself has not encountered volunteers at gas stations and does not know any motorists who have dealt with their work.

Another driver, Atsamaz, reported that problems with fuel availability depend on its type. He drives a diesel vehicle and has not stood in line at all during the fuel crisis.

The biggest shortage is 95-octane gasoline

"I have a diesel, I have not stood in line at all during this time. It is more expensive than gasoline, but there is no shortage. The biggest shortage is 95-octane gasoline," Atsamaz told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".

He also has not seen volunteers at gas stations. According to him, none of the drivers he knows have talked about their work.

A resident of Mozdok Islam told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot" that long queues persist at network gas stations, while at private gas stations in neighboring Kabardino-Balkaria, gasoline can be purchased without waiting, but at significantly higher prices.

Thus, according to Islam, at a private gas station in the Prokhladny area in Kabardino-Balkaria, gasoline is sold freely, but AI-92 costs 115 rubles per liter, and AI-95 – 125 rubles. "There are no queues. And the gasoline is of good quality, by the way," he noted.

The man reported that on October 17, he traveled to Mineralnye Vody. "At "Gazprom" [in Mineralnye Vody], there is a big queue. AI-92 costs 67 rubles with kopecks, AI-95 – 71 rubles. There was also a decent queue at "Rosneft," he said.

Islam assesses the quality of gasoline at some network gas stations, particularly at "Rosneft" and "Lukoil", as low. At the same time, he noted that he has repeatedly refueled at these stations despite the long queues.

The queue is a kilometer long, noise, commotion

According to his observations, the situation is particularly difficult at the "Gazprom" gas station in Mozdok, where servicing private vehicles only begins after refueling special transport.

"In Mozdok at "Gazprom", they start refueling private cars around eight in the morning. Before that, they refuel ambulances, police, and other special vehicles. The queue is a kilometer long, noise, commotion. People are arguing, some are trying to cut in line. It’s an abnormal situation," Islam told.

According to him, motorists sometimes take their place in line as early as night, as they do not know when gasoline sales will start at the gas station. "There are no announcements about when there will be gasoline. They start selling when they want, and close the gas station when they want. There is no order, just constant stress," he complained. At the same time, he noted that there are no problems with purchasing diesel fuel and propane, according to his observations.

I have never seen volunteers at any gas stations

He added that he has never seen volunteers at gas stations helping to regulate queues. "I have never seen any volunteers at any gas stations. No one to help regulate traffic. People are unhappy with this situation. They say everything will be regulated, but when it will be done, only the Almighty knows," he said.

Authorities continue to report on fuel reserves

The authorities of North Ossetia have repeatedly reported in October about an increase in gasoline reserves and stabilization of supplies.

Previously, at the end of September, when the head of the republic Sergey Menyaylo instructed to involve volunteers, there were 1751 tons of gasoline in the oil storage facilities of North Ossetia, and another 2460 tons were on the way. Menyaylo then acknowledged that the situation in the fuel market remains complicated, but emphasized that supplies are being made regularly.

On October 5, the regional government reported on its website about an increase in gasoline reserves to 2000 tons. Another 1250 tons were on the way. At that time, the authorities stated that "Gazprom" had fulfilled the weekly shipment plan in full.

According to government data as of October 19, there were 1955 tons of gasoline and 1081 tons of diesel fuel in the republic's oil storage facilities. Another approximately 3800 tons of gasoline and 3151 tons of diesel fuel were on the way.

On October 22, the authorities reported that the republic has 3186 tons of gasoline and 2162 tons of diesel fuel.

The powers of volunteers are limited by law

Russian legislation allows citizens to record alleged violations of traffic rules and send the relevant materials to the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate, a lawyer from the Moscow Bar Association Mikki Arapiev told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".

"According to Article 28.1 of the Administrative Offenses Code of the Russian Federation ["Initiation of an administrative offense case"], reports from individuals containing information about a possible administrative offense can serve as grounds for initiating a case. At the same time, to verify the report, it is necessary to establish the circumstances of the alleged violation. The video recording must allow determining the location of the incident, the actions of the driver, and the road situation. The assessment of evidence and the decision to hold the motorist accountable are made by authorized officials, not volunteers," the lawyer said.

Volunteers can inform drivers, record alleged violations

The possibility of involving public organizations in traffic regulation is provided for by Article 15 of Federal Law No. 443-FZ , noted Arapiev.

"However, participation in such events does not in itself grant volunteers police powers. According to the order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia No. 264, traffic regulation within the framework of road supervision is carried out by authorized police officers. Therefore, volunteers can inform drivers, record alleged violations, and submit materials to the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate, but they do not have the right to independently apply measures of administrative coercion," Arapiev explained.