Yuri Stankevich: the rise in retail fuel prices above inflation is unacceptable

      June 5, 2026 10:36 Economy At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (18+), Yuri Stankevich, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Energy and State Duma Deputy from the Nizhny Novgorod Region, commented to the publication "Russian Gazette" on the initiative to collect one and a half rubles from each liter of gasoline and diesel fuel to finance the protection of oil refineries (OR) from drone attacks and assessed the possible impact of such measures on fuel prices. According to the parliamentarian, no decisions have been made to introduce an additional fee as of today. "I would urge officials to treat such statements very carefully. Issues of fuel supply, availability of gasoline and diesel fuel, as well as their cost are extremely sensitive for citizens," he emphasized. There is currently no final position on this issue from either the government or the State Duma, so it is important not to stir public opinion with such statements. At the same time, Stankevich noted that the challenges for the industry are indeed serious. It concerns the protection not only of oil refineries but also of fuel storage facilities, logistics, and energy infrastructure. "On a national scale, we are talking about tens of billions of rubles," he stated. In his opinion, large companies will not be able to finance such expenses solely from their own funds without negative consequences for the tax base. In this regard, the deputy considers the creation of a specialized fund to be appropriate. "The creation of the fund itself does not seem to be a difficult task. Perhaps, legislative changes will not even be required for this; a corresponding management decision will be sufficient," he noted. According to Stankevich, the financing of such a fund should be carried out "either from tax revenues or from other sources, including budgetary funds." The fundamental position of the Committee on Energy remains unchanged: "The formula for indexing retail prices for motor fuel must be maintained. The price increase for consumers should not exceed the official inflation rate." According to Yuri Stankevich, regardless of future government decisions, this basic principle must be preserved. In response to a question about the possible impact of new mechanisms on fuel prices, he stated: "I am convinced that such a mechanism can be built without a sharp increase in prices for the end consumer." According to him, through the regulation of financial flows throughout the entire chain - "from the well to the gas station" - it is possible to prevent a sudden spike in prices. "The retail consumer, Russian car owners, must be protected. This is the position we hold in the State Duma and intend to defend," he concluded. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay informed about major events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.