Russians Warned of Consequences for Attempting to Bribe Gas Station Employees Amid Fuel Restrictions

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In the current situation of fuel restrictions affecting more than 40 regions in Russia, it is not uncommon for drivers to attempt to "negotiate" with gas station operators by offering money in exchange for a larger fuel supply. According to legal experts, such a "bribe" falls under Article 204 of the Russian Criminal Code — "Commercial Bribery," which can result in imprisonment, as reported by Baza.

Under Russian law, a gas station employee dispensing fuel is considered a person performing managerial functions in a commercial organization. Bribing such an individual is punishable by a fine of up to 400,000 rubles or imprisonment for up to two years. If the bribe is of significant size, the punishment is more severe: the fine increases to 800,000 rubles, and imprisonment can reach three years. If multiple individuals are involved, the penalty may escalate to a fine of up to 1.5 million rubles or imprisonment for up to seven years.

Legal experts stress that the crime can be established even without the actual transfer of money. An attempt to commit the crime is considered if the driver offers money and the gas station employee declines.