Fuel for Daily Life: Russian Academy of Social Sciences Steps In to Calm Public Concerns
According to TASS, Yevgeny Masharov, a member of the public consultation committee on draft legislation and other normative acts at the Russian Academy of Social Sciences, stated that Russian citizens have the right to claim compensation if their vehicles break down due to poor-quality fuel purchased from private sellers.
He pointed out that as long as consumers can prove a causal link between vehicle damage and fuel quality, the responsibility for repairs falls on the fuel seller. This legal stance is grounded in relevant provisions of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation regarding damages. For such cases, officials advise the public to retain (e.g., by taking screenshots) online advertisements for fuel sales and promptly report incidents to law enforcement authorities.
Masharov also emphasized that gasoline is a potentially hazardous substance, and the illegal sale of fuel poses serious fire safety risks.
Moreover, he specifically noted that although Russia’s current fuel market supply is secure, the ongoing restructuring of logistics systems means full market stability will require some time.
Against the backdrop of continuous attacks by Ukraine on Russian oil refineries, pipelines, and storage facilities, the country’s official fuel distribution network has been severely disrupted. To fill the supply gap, numerous unqualified and unregulated private sellers have flooded the market. These sellers often obtain fuel through illegal channels, resulting in unreliable fuel quality and a high risk of fires and other safety incidents.
The Russian Academy of Social Sciences (as an official representative body for public opinion) stepping forward to emphasize "compensation is possible" is essentially a crisis management and calming measure. Given that private sellers are often hidden and mobile, consumers face significant difficulties in gathering evidence and pursuing claims in practice. The government’s move aims to send a clear signal to the public: the state is actively intervening and regulating the market, attempting to redirect public frustration over fuel shortages and declining quality toward targeting “unscrupulous private sellers.”
The Russian government previously approved the production of gasoline and diesel with reduced environmental standards at certain refineries, and some regions have already begun implementing gasoline rationing. This indicates that military consumption on the front lines and the destruction of infrastructure in the rear are genuinely squeezing the living space of ordinary Russians. While officials insist “fuel supply is guaranteed,” admitting that “stability takes time” indirectly confirms that the domestic fuel supply is currently experiencing a painful period of strain.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1869470522328074/
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