Russians face detention for reporting fuel shortages amid refinery issues

Russia is grappling with a renewed gasoline shortage, impacting numerous regions. Compounding the issue, citizens who publicly voice concerns about the lack of fuel are facing penalties. In several cities, police have reclassified these complaints as unauthorized public gatherings or protests.

According to an S&P Global analysis, at least 26 Russian refineries suspended operations, and seven had not resumed production by the end of July. In August, four more refineries were halted. This has led to a noticeable scarcity of gasoline in various parts of the country.

In Volgograd, five residents recorded a video message to the head of Russia's Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, detailing the gasoline shortage. They alleged that city officials were using fuel cards for official vehicles while ordinary citizens faced purchase restrictions. However, the police classified the video recording as an unauthorized public gathering, detaining all five individuals. One participant, lawyer Aleksey Sevastyanov, received a five-day jail sentence for allegedly resisting police. Another was fined approximately $118 for participating in what authorities deemed a mass protest.

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Police have, however, classified the recording of the video as an unauthorized public gathering and detained all five participants.

A similar incident occurred in Perm, where Lev Samolovskikh was fined for organizing a gathering and publicly expressing opinions on the fuel shortage. Despite notifying city authorities of his intent to protest and promoting the event on a small Telegram channel, he was accused of illegal agitation.

These events coincide with a new wave of gasoline shortages across Russia, intensified by drone attacks on refineries. Authorities have tightened fuel sales controls in at least ten regions, including Orenburg, Lipetsk, and Krasnodar. While diesel remains available at most stations, gasoline has disappeared from some pumps in the Moscow region. The supply issues, which began in May and affected nearly all regions by July, saw a brief improvement after government measures like export bans and import increases. However, renewed drone attacks in late July and early August have put pressure back on supply.

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The authorities accused him of illegal agitation.