Discontent with utility tariffs has remained at a household level against the backdrop of the absence of real competition in elections in Chechnya.

High utility bills are especially felt by residents of Grozny, who are forced to use electricity for heating their homes, while the upcoming increase in tariffs may further raise their expenses, local residents reported. Discontent with utility costs is unlikely to find political expression due to the lack of opportunity for open protest in Chechnya, noted political scientist Sergey Zhavoronkov.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on September 3, users of a Chechen public group expressed outrage over the upcoming increase in utility tariffs starting October 1, stating that incomes are not growing in proportion to expenses on utilities.

A resident of Grozny reported that he has already accumulated a three-month debt on utility payments. "I have a three-room apartment on the first floor, and now I spend almost 13,000 rubles on these payments – 60% of my pension. I don’t know how I will pay after the increase," he told a correspondent from "Caucasian Knot" on the condition of anonymity.

His highest expenses in summer are for water, and in winter – for electricity. "Since we do not have centralized heating, we have to warm up using electric heaters," said a resident of Grozny.

The amount of payments depends on the area and type of house, noted another resident of Grozny. "I currently pay about 3,000 rubles on average, in winter – about 5,000–5,500 rubles, but I have centralized heating, so the main payments are for electricity, gas, and water. Those without such heating have to spend a lot on electricity for heaters in winter – they can spend up to 10,000 a month on utility payments. New buildings have municipal heating, so it is cheaper there," he told a correspondent from "Caucasian Knot".

The increase in tariffs from October 1 may not be final, believes political scientist Sergey Zhavoronkov. "I would like to draw attention to the fact that in addition to the increase in tariffs themselves, the methodology for calculating may also change, which will ultimately lead to an even greater increase in payments," he told a correspondent from "Caucasian Knot".

Discontent among the residents of Chechnya is unlikely to go beyond social networks, believes Zhavoronkov. "In the conditions of the practically existing totalitarian regime in Chechnya, no protest can simply occur," he stated.

In the perception of the population, Ramzan Kadyrov and the federal center are currently indistinguishable, believes the political scientist. "If earlier Kadyrov sold his power as a buffer against the arbitrariness of the federals. But now he has established rules that are harsher than those in Russia as a whole, so no distinctions are made between him and the federal center," said Zhavoronkov.

The postponement of the main stage of tariff indexing from July 1 to October 1 is related to the need to synchronize utility tariffs with the dynamics of energy prices for legal entities, stated the deputy chair of the State Committee on Prices and Tariffs of Chechnya Karina Khagieva. The first stage of indexing in January was technical and related to the increase in the VAT rate, the publication "Chechnya Today" quoted her words on September 3.