The Russian government said today that it has temporarily banned exports of petrol and diesel to all but four former Soviet countries with the decision to take effect immediately to stabilize the domestic market.
The ban did not apply to fuel supplies to members of the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union, which included Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan.
The measure would prevent unauthorized exports of auto fuel, according to the Energy Ministry.
Russia has suffered in the past few months from gasoline and diesel shortages. Wholesale fuel prices rose, although retail prices were capped in an effort to curb them in line with the official inflation rate.
The crisis has been most severe in some parts of the so-called bread basket in southern Russia, where fuel is essential for harvesting.
This could pose a serious and embarrassing crisis for the Kremlin as the presidential election approaches next March.
