A rise in minibus fares has upset residents of Dagestan.

Drivers of some minibuses in Dagestan have raised fares to 50 rubles. Local residents, commenting on the fare increase announcement on social media, stated that the fare is inappropriate for their income level and that the quality of transportation services remains poor.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," residents of Dagestan have previously repeatedly complained about problems with public transportation. They noted that buses and minibuses are constantly overcrowded, that drivers fail to adhere to schedules, and that they frequently drive past stops. On May 6, 2024, minibus owners appealed to the Makhachkala authorities for permission to raise fares to 35 rubles. This caused discontent among Makhachkala residents.

On June 20, the Instagram* public page my.derbent published a photo showing a notice on a minibus announcing a fare increase to 50 rubles.

"In Dagestan, minibuses are starting to raise fares due to rising fuel prices (pictured is a minibus in Buynaksk). They ask for your understanding," the photo's caption reads.

This post on the Instagram* public page my.derbent, which has approximately 323,000 followers, had 452 likes and 108 comments as of 11:50 AM Moscow time on June 22. Some of their authors attributed the fare hike to higher fuel prices. "This was expected given the fuel price increase," wrote murad_official_tea_master. "This was to be expected," noted derbentskiy1987. "Yesterday I filled up with diesel for 80 rubles, today it's 90 rubles," wrote imlii_555.

Other users expressed doubt that the increase in fares was related to the rising cost of fuel, pointing to the use of gas.

"As if they were filling up with gasoline. Most people use gas," noted marat_86__.

"Minibuses on gas and fairy tales about diesel," wrote user sanuber____. "You all drive on gas," gamzaeva862 emphasized.

Another group of commentators complained about the condition of the minibuses.

"Then they shouldn't take people standing up; there were 37 people in the minibus," hadizhat1961 noted. "Install air conditioning and clean seats then," wrote timayuss.

"As if their minibuses are comfortable. You stand for an hour at the bus stop, it's packed. But the fare is 40 rubles," noted prostomariy34.

Users also noted the discrepancy between rising fares and wage levels. "Are our wages aware of this?" - aisha777tt quipped. "They can raise prices, but not wages?" - kameliy_999 noted. "Let them raise wages too," declared ramazanov_r_m_.

Some commentators suggested abandoning minibuses in favor of other modes of transportation.

"We should start riding bicycles. It's healthy," wrote user sabi_pack. "It's easier to take a taxi," noted user rijee_bestie.

As of 11:50 Moscow time, there are no comments on the websites of the head of Dagestan and the government regarding the increase in public transport fares.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that the transport operators themselves had previously pointed out problems with public transport in Dagestan. For example, on November 1, 2021, Makhachkala minibus drivers went on strike, demanding a reduction in revenue targets and the return of the previous fares for passengers.

The company's administration suspended the strikers, and Makhachkala residents supported the minibus drivers' action on social media. However, the strike was unsuccessful; the protesters failed to achieve a reduction in revenue targets or the return of previous fares for passengers.

* Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) is banned in Russia.