Residents of southern Russia deemed the rise in gasoline prices unjustified.

At network gas stations in several regions of southern Russia, you can only buy gasoline at a low price after standing in a long queue; at private gas stations, prices are even twice as high. Residents of Dagestan, Chechnya, Kabardino-Balkaria, Stavropol, and the Rostov region reported that they consider such a price gap an attempt to profit from car owners.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", Dagestan has become a leader in the country in gasoline prices, reported the republican television channel. Local residents, commenting on its video report on social media, demanded that the authorities and the antimonopoly service explain the reasons for the high fuel prices and take measures to reduce them.

Road traveler Alexey, who passed through Vladikavkaz on his way to the state border of Georgia, shared his personal experience of visiting local gas stations.

"At local 'Rosneft' gas stations, the entire range of fuel is available, but you have to stand in half-hour queues at the entrance. There is gasoline and diesel, you can get through. But you have to prepare for the fact that you will have to stand in line. I stood for about 30 minutes to get to the pump. The queues are dense, people are constantly arriving, as many other gas stations in the city are simply dry," he told a correspondent of 'Caucasian Knot'.

He confirmed that where he refueled, strict limits are officially in place. "They allow exactly 30 liters per person. To fill a normal volume for the further journey across the border, you have to be clever. For example, I ended up refueling 60 liters, but for that, I had to pay with two different bank cards. Without such ingenuity, you won't get far in the Caucasus now!" he added.

A resident of St. Petersburg Anastasia Balkarova traveled by car with her family through several subjects of the Southern Federal District and the North Caucasian Federal District and told 'Caucasian Knot' how things were with fuel.

"The other day we drove to Kabarda. In the Kuschyovskaya area, the 'Teboil', 'Lukoil', and 'Gazprom' stations were operating normally, further along the highway near Nevinnomyssk we refueled at 'Rosneft', and in Mineralnye Vody, the 'Lukoil' station was working. We didn't notice particularly large queues along the highway, except for the 'Gazprom' gas stations. But when we entered Kabarda, there was simply no gasoline at network gas stations. All hope is only on private ones, but their prices are outrageous," she said.

On the way back, there were also no particular problems.

"The price for AI-95 is around 100-110 rubles per liter. Of course, not all gas stations are operating as they used to, many are closed. But our advice to everyone heading towards Vladikavkaz: if you see an open network gas station, stop immediately and fill up on the way. Then there will be no problems or running around in case the gas stations close."

A resident of Grozny Ruslan reported that there is no fuel shortage in Chechnya, but the price of 95 gasoline has hit 110 rubles:

"In Grozny, compared to neighboring republics, at least there is no severe shortage. There have been no problems with gasoline itself; you can refuel without crazy searches all over the city. Just a week ago, AI-95 was sold for 110 rubles per liter. Now I am even afraid to imagine how much it has risen while I am away. Just tomorrow night I will be returning home to Grozny and will find out the fresh price on the spot. But the fact that prices have risen dramatically across the North Caucasus is true," he told a correspondent of 'Caucasian Knot'.

A resident of Nalchik Yulia faces a fuel crisis daily when trying to refuel her personal car for trips around the city.

"We are effectively faced with a tough choice between hours of waiting at 'Rosneft' and paying double at private stations. In the city, there are kilometer-long queues at 'Rosneft', where they at least try to keep gasoline at the official 75 rubles, so it is simply impossible to get through; people stand for hours. And at all other private gas stations, prices have instantly risen to 140 rubles per liter. So drivers are faced with a choice: either lose half a day in line or pay twice as much for a tank. And no one is stopping this. We are told about some control from the antimonopoly service, but in reality, private stations do whatever they want. We are simply faced with the fact and drained of our last money," she complained to a correspondent of 'Caucasian Knot'.

A resident of Pyatigorsk Magomed reacts emotionally to the official reports from regulators, comparing them with real prices at gas stations.

"Don't believe the pretty news that talks about prices of 70-80 rubles. In Pyatigorsk, gasoline has long been sold for 150 rubles per liter. And if you drive further through the Stavropol region, there are price tags at gas stations of 130-140 rubles, and in some places, the numbers are even higher. All this phrase about 'the situation is under control' is just funny. What control? Control over how the price goes up daily on the display? Drivers are simply out of words, only negativity," he told a correspondent of 'Caucasian Knot'.

A resident of Makhachkala is outraged that more and more private gas stations in the republic are ceasing operations every day, while the remaining ones have raised their prices to 130 rubles:

"In Dagestan today, the price tags at gas stations are 130 rubles per liter. And we are constantly told about some 'logistical costs'. What other costs on such a scale? What kind of control is this if the price difference with central Russia is already more than 50-70 rubles per liter? Because of these prices and closed stations, the entire region is facing a serious crisis," he told a correspondent of 'Caucasian Knot'.

A resident of the Rostov region Lyubasha also complains about the rise in fuel prices.

"The news reports average prices of 100 rubles, but in our Rostov region, the price tags at gas stations are already 130 rubles. Why does gasoline cost 65-75 rubles in Moscow, while in the Rostov region and the south we have to pay 130 rubles for it? Our drivers are simply in despair. People spend a huge amount of money just to get to work or deliver cargo. This is a real artificial shortage and profit at the expense of ordinary citizens," she believes.

Earlier, the association of gas stations "Dagtoplivo" stated that gasoline in Dagestan has decreased in price by 25 percent over the month. Residents of the republic, discussing the association's report on social media, pointed out the ongoing excitement, queues at gas stations, and the actual rise in fuel prices.