Increased fares in fixed-route minibuses anger Grozny townspeople

In Chechnya, some fixed-route minivans have doubled their fares, local residents complain.

Over the past week, prices for gas motor fuel have sharply increased at almost all filling stations in Chechnya. Back in late July, propane cost was 27 roubles per litre; today it is 35 roubles, said Isa, a "Gazel" minivan driver.

Zulai, a woman from the Grozny dwelling settlement of Katayama, said that she works in a state structure in central Grozny. "When I receive my salary, I immediately put aside money to pay for housing and communal services, foodstuffs, travels and medicines. Everything was more or less stable with travel expenses, but now only a week has passed, and my money allocated for travels is over. If earlier I used to pay for the travel from my residence to the workplace 120 roubles, now, during the last week I have to pay 220 roubles per trip. All passengers are indignant, as we have to pay almost twice, by 100 roubles more!" said the woman, adding that the driver explained this by the increase in prices for gas motor fuel; but, as a result, passengers suffer from this.

Uvais, a resident of Gudermes, who is a co-owner of a gas station, has confirmed that gas motor fuel has risen in price, and all the city taxi cars and vans are using it. "Therefore, not only in Chechnya, but in many regions fares have skyrocketed. The cost of liquefied hydrocarbon gases is not regulated by the state in any way, which means that another jump in fuel prices and further – in fares – is quite possible," said the man.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 17, 2021 at 10:45 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.