Volgograd residents reported an improvement in the gasoline situation after the attempt to address Bastrykin.

Lawyer Alexey Sevastyanov will appeal the arrest for recording an address to the head of the Investigative Committee, which the security forces considered an unauthorized rally. He noted that the attempt to record an address to Bastrykin led to an improvement in the fuel situation in the Volgograd region. Drivers confirmed that there are practically no queues at gas stations.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", limits on the sale of AI-92 gasoline have been lifted at Gazpromneft gas stations in the Volgograd region. The limit for AI-95 gasoline is 30 liters in the city, 50 liters on the highway. Previously, after the attempt to address Bastrykin, the authorities of the Volgograd region reported an increase in the limits for gasoline sales at Lukoil gas stations to 40 liters. Earlier, police detained five people at a gas station in Volgograd who were recording a video address to the head of the Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin regarding the gasoline situation. Lawyer Alexey Sevastyanov was arrested by the court on July 17 for five days.

Sevastyanov called the protocol on the "rally" article fabricated

After his release, lawyer Alexey Sevastyanov told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot" that the topic of his video address to government representatives was primarily about "the discrimination of citizens' rights, who during the fuel shortage observed the picture of cars calmly refueling at supposedly closed gas stations, primarily in the Lukoil network, using fuel cards, including cars with RAA numbers belonging to the administration."

Citizens had to stand in kilometer-long queues in the heat or at night, argue, and fray each other's nerves.

"But ordinary citizens were somehow refused gasoline at such gas stations. And all citizens had to stand in kilometer-long queues in the heat or at night, argue, fray each other's nerves, and sometimes even fight. Instead of showing their care and unity with the people by riding bicycles, officials organized refueling points for themselves to refuel all their cars, both official and personal," Sevastyanov stated.

He noted that cars of officials "somehow were not seen" standing in queues alongside ordinary citizens. That is why, according to the activist, citizens decided to ask such a question to the head of the Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin.

"But the authorities decided to suppress such civic initiative. Given that there were no legal grounds for law enforcement officers to demand the cessation of a public event, they decided to classify the undesirable event for the authorities under the Federal Law No. 54-FZ of 19.06.2004 "On Assemblies, Rallies, Demonstrations, Marches, and Picketing." However, even from the name of the mentioned law, our public event does not fall under its jurisdiction," Sevastyanov explained.

Alexey reported that the participants in the recording of the address were taken to the department, and police "fabricated" protocols against five activists under the article on violating the established procedure for organizing or conducting a meeting, rally (part 5 of article 20.2 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation).

"Police officers, intentionally distorting reality, are trying to accuse citizens of holding an unauthorized rally, as such an event indeed needs to be coordinated with local authorities. But we did not have any rally at all, and none of the participants was rallying," Sevastyanov stated.

The activist is appealing the arrest

In addition to article 20.2 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation, they "decided to hang on Alexey the charge of disobedience to the supposedly lawful demand of a police officer," i.e., part 1 of article 19.3. Another protocol was drawn up, and he was detained for a day at OP-4. The next day, on July 17, he was taken to the Central District Court, where he was arrested for 5 days.

"I served my arrest in a special detention center on Krasnopolanskaya Street 17. And I decided to appeal it myself immediately after my release, as I have legal knowledge and represent the interests of citizens in various courts. I am finishing the preparation of the corresponding complaint, and it will be sent to the court on Monday," Alexey reported.

He explained that the complaint will be considered in mid-August. Sevastyanov intends to appeal "all illegal judicial acts, up to the Supreme Court."

Our initiative and my detention were not in vain.

Alexey also noted that after the recording of the address, the situation with fuel at gas stations in Volgograd "sharply improved, and we no longer observe any queues." He also believes that the situation with prices and limits has "noticeably improved."

"So our initiative and my detention were not in vain. But we still have four court processes ahead, where we will expose the fabricated police protocols for holding a "rally." And there we will see how these guardians of our rights will lie and wriggle out of it," Sevastyanov said.

Drivers confirmed the improvement in the situation at gas stations

Drivers of passenger cars indicated that the situation is stabilizing, although prices have risen.

"The limit of 30 liters in the tank is quite enough for moving around the city. The prices are just high. I hope they will drop to May levels, as it is unprofitable to make long trips, for example, to the dacha, in my own car," said a resident of the Voroshilovsky district of Volgograd Akaiky Pataraya.

A pensioner from Volzhsky, who introduced himself as Vladimir Ivanovich, expressed hope for the cancellation of limits.

"It's time to return to the previous level of prices and overall fuel availability. The authorities were not ready for the force majeure. Let them correct themselves," said the pensioner.

"There are no queues anywhere. All gas stations seem to be open," reported the political scientist Ilya Kravchenko to the correspondent.

Volgograd resident Olga Kitaeva named the fuel prices as of July 25: at Gazprom AI-92 - 63.75 rubles, AI-95 - 71 rubles, diesel - 76.9 rubles. At TATNEFT gas stations, AI-92 - 64.20 rubles, AI-95 - 71.5 rubles, diesel - 77.25 rubles. At Lukoil gas station, AI-92 - 66 rubles, AI-95 - 73.5 rubles, diesel - 79.25 rubles.

"The situation (with fuel sales) is normalizing. On federal highways, it is better. There are no queues at all. Gasoline is sold at all gas stations. I hope the authorities will maintain the trend towards improvement," Olga Kitaeva said.

According to the "GdeBenz" service (Gdebenz.ru), as of 21:00 Moscow time today, there is no information about the availability of gasoline at some gas stations in Volgograd (marked with gray labels), while gasoline is available at other gas stations (green labels). The Gdebenz.ru service is based on user reports, so the information displayed on the map is not official. "Caucasian Knot" does not have the ability to promptly verify the accuracy of the information published by users.