Top Dagestan official arrested amid massive anti-corruption sweep

Dagestan’s State Secretary, Magomed-Sultan Magomedov, has been detained as part of a large-scale criminal investigation into the illegal privatisation of state assets, alongside several of his relatives and associates.

According to a source within law enforcement, cited by Russian media, early this morning, law enforcement officers carried out searches at more than 50 locations linked to Magomedov, Caliber.Az reports.

The operation also targeted properties associated with MSB Holding LLC, which includes the enterprise Dagnefteprodukt.

“A criminal case has been opened on illegal privatisation,” the source confirmed. “The enterprise will be returned [to state ownership].”

The source stated that, in addition to Magomedov himself, “all his relatives and colleagues” were also taken into custody.

The detention of the state secretary was formally processed at his residence, where law enforcement seized “a huge amount of cash.” The operation was carried out with the participation of personnel from the central office of the Federal Security Service (FSB), as well as regional FSB officers.

Further details regarding the scope of the case or the timeline for legal proceedings have not yet been officially disclosed.

By Tamilla Hasanova