Gasoline problems have raised the issue of trolleybus service between Makhachkala and Kaspiysk.

Amid problems with purchasing fuel for cars and the closure of gas stations, residents of Makhachkala and Kaspiysk considered it expedient to restore trolleybus service, including the intercity route.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot", residents of Makhachkala and Kaspiysk appealed to the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia Bastrykin for help in restoring trolleybus service between the cities.
The decision to liquidate the trolleybus depot contradicts the promises of the Makhachkala mayor's office to preserve this popular and environmentally friendly form of public transport, the city residents pointed out. The trolleybus department, which owns attractive plots of land, was deliberately brought to a deplorable financial state, suggested a journalist and a former employee of the transport company. The Investigative Committee reported a criminal case.

Makhachkala resident Rustam told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the trolleybus was a convenient and inexpensive form of transportation, costing 20 rubles, and it also didn't pollute the air.

"My children, students, commute from Kaspiysk to Makhachkala every day for school. The trolleybus was very affordable. Now we have to take the bus, which costs three times as much. Due to fuel shortages, there's talk that the fare will go up," Maryam told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"The trolleybus was a popular form of transportation, especially for low-income citizens. "Now, with the gasoline shortages, resuming routes would be very important," Murad, a student from Makhachkala, told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The Novoye Delo publication reported on its Telegram channel that it had published an analytical article back in March about the questionability of liquidating the trolleybus administration, including from a strategic security perspective. "There are no underground fuel storage facilities in Dagestan, and it's easy to imagine the problems that could arise in the event of prolonged breakdowns on logistics routes. Under such conditions, electric public transport could be an important alternative. We're not talking about the city's attributes or the social aspect of this transport," the publication stated.

As a reminder, at the end of May, Makhachkala residents complained that a significant number of gas stations in the city were closed, forcing them to wait in line. Analysts linked the suspension of gas station operations to ongoing work to improve safety at gas stations. Motorists in Makhachkala are not experiencing a fuel shortage, but are calling the price increase noticeable - both gasoline of all brands and gas have gone up in price. There is no shortage of motor fuel in Dagestan, and fuel prices are under control, the Dagestan Ministry of Energy assured on June 18. At the same time, car owners themselves have noted a rise in pricesfor all types of fuel in just a few days. "AI-95 costs 90 rubles, AI-92 costs 85 rubles, and gas costs 33 rubles. The price has risen by five rubles or more per liter in just a few days. And you still have to find a gas station where you can buy gasoline," Zaur reported on June 19.

On June 21, Makhachkala resident Zaur told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the price of AI-95 gasoline had already reached 99 rubles, AI-92 – 93 rubles, and gas – 35 rubles. "To fill up for that much, you have to find a working gas station and wait in line," he said.

The Asko gas station chain in Dagestan announced that it would be forced to supply fuel only to emergency services and vital facilities. In a video posted on the gas station chain's Instagram page*, a man standing in front of an Asko gas station said that "under the current circumstances, providing fuel to emergency services and vital facilities is a priority," so "fuel will only be available for these vehicles," he said.

Two days earlier, Asko announced sales restrictions on the same social media platform. "Diesel fuel - up to 50 liters per purchase. Gasoline - up to 20 liters per purchase. Gas - unlimited," the message read.