Journalists and rights defenders treat new Dagestani FSIN boss with cautious optimism

Nikolai Sangadjigoryaev, the new chief for the Dagestani Department of the Federal Penitentiary Service (known as FSIN), transferred from Transbaikalia, has work experience in Dagestan, and that fact creates prerequisites for preserving and improving the interaction between the FSIN Department for Dagestan and rights defenders. This opinion was expressed by experts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 5, it became known that Nikolai Sangadjigoryaev, the acting head of the FSIN Department for Nikolai Sangadjigoryaev, would lead the FSIN Department for Dagestan instead of Muslim Dakhkhaev, who was transferred to the position of the chief of the FSIN Department for the Rostov Region, vacated in connection with a case of corruption.

No one should explain the Nikolai Sangadjigoryaev's appointment by political motives, believes Magomed Magomedov, an observer of the newspaper "Chernovik" (Draft).

According to him, such excesses as prisoners' hunger strikes and corruption scandals are typical for prisons not only in Dagestan, but also in other regions.

Magomed Magomedov believes that the practice of "appointing a person from outside" helps reduce corruption and contribute to more stringent control.

The national quota for heads of the Dagestani law enforcement agencies is in fact almost inapplicable, noted Milbat Fatullaev, the editor-in-chief of the IA "Derbent".

Under the Muslim Dakhkhaev's ruling, almost no serious questions were raised concerning the observation of the prisoners' rights in Dagestan, believes Shamil Khadulaev, a member of the Public Observation Commission (POC) of the third and fourth convocations.

According to Shamil Khadulaev, the appointment of Nikolai Sangadjigoryaev was perceived with cautiousness by some staff members of the FSIN Department for Dagestan and people engaged in protection of the prisoners' rights.

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