Sweeping arrests target high-ranking Dagestani state officials

Federal agents have arrested several high-ranking government officialsin the Republic of Dagestan on embezzlement charges. The officials allegedly stole money from the local budget for social programs.

Officers from the Federal Security Service, Interior Ministry, and Investigative Committee raided several offices in Dagestan on Monday, February 5, detaining Dagestan’s acting Prime Minister Abdusamad Gamidov, acting deputy prime ministers Shamil Isayev and Rayudin Yusufov, and former Education Minister Shakhabas Shakhov.

Police previously opened criminal investigations against Makhachkala Mayor Musa Musayev and the city’s chief architect, Magomedrasul Gitinov, on charges of abuse of authority.