Dagestani journalists do not treat Umakhanov's new appointment as demotion

The new Transport Minister of Dagestan Saygitpasha Umakhanov has preserved control over Khasavyurt, even after stepping down as Mayor; therefore, his transition to a less influential post is not a demotion, said Gadjimurad Sagitov and Musa Musaev, the editors-in-chief of the editions "Novoye Delo" and "Nastoyeascheye Vremya", accordingly. The post of the minister for Umakhanov may be a temporary job before going to the State Duma, said Biyakai Magomedov, a former editor-in-chief of the "Chernovik" weekly.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that today Umakhanov has officially headed the Ministry of Transport, Energy and Communications of Dagestan.

It is impossible to say with certainty today whether the new Umakhanov's post was a promotion or demotion, said Gadjimurad Sagitov. He expressed confidence that Umakhanov would cope with his new job, since he has extensive experience of managing Khasavyurt, including in very difficult situiations.

The appointment of Umakhanov to the post of the minister is logical – he is a political heavyweight, and "should not have been left out in the cold," said Musa Musaev.

The appointment of Umakhanov could be the result of lengthy negotiations with the head of Dagestan and federal structures, said Biyakai Magomedov, a journalist and a former editor-in-chief of "Chernovik" (in 2011-2013). However, in his opinion, the post of the Minister for Umakhanov is a temporary workplace before the actual promotion.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.