Volgograd woman fined over video appeal about gasoline shortage
A court in Volgograd fined resident Tatyana Smetanko for taking part in an unsanctioned mass event after she and four others recorded a video appeal about a local fuel shortage. All five participants were detained, and one received an additional jail sentence.
A court in Volgograd has fined local resident Tatyana Smetanko 10,000 rubles for allegedly taking part in an unauthorized mass public event, independent outlet Mediazona reported.
The fine stems from an incident on July 16, when Smetanko and four other people recorded a video appeal near a gas station in Volgograd, addressed to Alexander Bastrykin, head of Russia's Investigative Committee. In the recording, they complained about a shortage of gasoline in the city and described what they saw as an unfair arrangement: city administration vehicles could fill up fully using fuel cards, while ordinary residents were often turned away.
All participants detained
Shortly after the recording was made, authorities detained everyone involved, classifying the video appeal as an unauthorized mass event. One participant, lawyer Alexey Sevastyanov, additionally received a five-day arrest sentence on the grounds of allegedly resisting police.
The case reflects ongoing fuel shortages in parts of Russia and the authorities' response to residents publicly raising the issue.
