Third Russian region declares state of emergency over fuel crisis, clearing way to postpone elections

Penza Oblast Governor Oleg Melchenko declared a heightened state of readiness across the region on 30 June due to a fuel crisis. Penza is already the third Russian region to implement such a measure, following Zabaykalsky Krai and Irkutsk Oblast. A heightened state of readiness provides legal grounds for postponing elections.

Oleg Melchenko, governor of Penza Oblast in Russia, announced on 30 June the implementation of a heightened state of readiness across the region. According to him, the measure is necessary to ensure uninterrupted operation of emergency and rescue services, as well as socially important facilities, including energy and fuel infrastructure.

Fuel restrictions across Russia

Penza Oblast has imposed restrictions on fuel sales since 23 June. A single vehicle may be sold no more than 100 litres of petrol and 200 litres of diesel at a time. In many other Russian regions, restrictions are far stricter: in some places, vehicles can only be fuelled with 30 litres of petrol at a time.

Penza Oblast is the third Russian region to introduce a heightened state of readiness due to the fuel crisis. Before it, Zabaykalsky Krai and Irkutsk Oblast took such action. In Zabaykalsky Krai, one of the strictest limits in the country has been in place since 25 June, with just 15 litres of petrol allowed per refuelling. In Irkutsk Oblast, a 50-litre limit was imposed on Rosneft filling stations from 28 June onwards, while other stations can set even tighter limits.

Election postponement in focus

Irkutsk has become a symbol of the fuel crisis. In a region where oil is extracted and petrol is produced, people must queue for half a day or an entire night to get fuel. The record waiting time reached 18 hours.

A heightened state of readiness is a politically sensitive measure also because paragraph 10.1 of Russia's electoral law allows elections to be postponed during such a situation. Sources at Meduza have reported that security service chiefs want to persuade Vladimir Putin to postpone the State Duma elections scheduled for September. Reportedly, the FSB leadership and the commander of Rosgvardiya support postponing the elections.

At the same time, civil servants in the presidential administration favour holding elections on schedule, and Putin himself confirmed at the United Russia congress that elections will take place as planned.

Crisis background and risks

The fuel crisis is becoming increasingly acute across Russia, with shortages particularly severe in eastern regions, where fuel shipments from Moscow are not reaching in sufficient quantities. As the crisis deepens, the question of holding State Duma elections in September becomes ever more pressing. Pressure from security services to postpone elections has grown following Ukrainian strikes on Moscow.