The Aidiyev case highlighted the problem of restoring the Aukhovsky district

The distribution of land plots, of which the former head of the Novolaksky district is suspected, along with the sale of land, has become a mechanism of corruption in Dagestan, blocking the process of restoring the Aukhovsky district.

As reported by the " Caucasian Knot ," on December 3, investigators reported the arrest of Magomed-Gadzhi Aidiev, the former head of the Novolaksky District. In 2023, by decree of the head of Dagestan, he was appointed head of the government department for the resettlement of the Lak population of the Novolaksky District and the restoration of the Aukhovsky District. A court in Makhachkala remanded Aidiev in custody on charges of abuse of office.

There is no direct connection between the land fraud suspected of the former head of the Novolaksky District and the actual halt in the restoration of the Aukhovsky District, as the problem is "much broader," Dagestani lawyer Magomed Aliyev , who is assisting residents of the resettled Novolaksky District, told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The resettlement process depends, rather, on the political situation and the position of the authorities

"There have always been complaints about unfair land allocation. I suspect there are purely commercial and corrupt factors involved. The resettlement process itself depends, rather, on the political situation and the position of the Dagestani authorities," he said.

Aliyev did not rule out the possibility that complaints from residents and Lak activists regarding violations in resettlement matters could have prompted the criminal case. Aidiyev's appointment to the post of head of the government department was carried out by the republic's leadership, which must have been aware of incoming reports of his corrupt activities, the lawyer believes.

The situation with the alleged transfer of land plots to Aidiyev is to some extent connected to the issue of denial of resettlement status to 700 families. However, the transfer of 37 land plots, which the investigation accuses him of, is only a small part of the possible corruption violations during the resettlement process, Magomed Aliyev suggested. 

Chechens in Aukha link Aidiyev's arrest to the attention of federal authorities.

Activists in the Aukhovsky District restoration movement attribute the arrest of the former head of the Novolaksky District to federal authorities' focus on the issue of illegal land distribution. They believe that illegal land sales in the Novolaksky District have long been a money-making mechanism that simultaneously blocked the restoration of the Aukhovsky District and altered the region's demographic balance, an activist in the movement told a Caucasian Knot correspondent on condition of anonymity.

He noted that activists' appeals had gone unanswered for many years, but the situation began to change after a closed-door meeting of public council representatives at the Russian presidential administration in late September. "It seems our appeals have begun to reach the authorities. The last meeting of public council representatives took place at the presidential administration in late September. I believe the current events are a direct consequence of that meeting," the activist said.

He also pointed out corrupt practices in the distribution of housing in new buildings for resettled Laks. "Those entitled to housing [recognized as being resettled from the Novolaksky District] are not given it without bribes: those who pay get it, those who don't are left with nothing," the activist explained.

According to the Aukhovsky district head, the main complaints raised by the Aukhovsky district's residents against the arrested head concerned obstruction of the restoration of the Aukhovsky district. The activists demanded an end to the sale of land that, by law, should be part of the restored district.

"All the Avar villages that emerged during this period were built with his signature. At least two villages have already emerged, and another one is currently being planned – at the entrance to Solnechnoye. This is part of the Aukhovsky District, which is currently being restored," the activist said.

He estimates that while the Aukhov residents are trying to reclaim their historic villages, land is being sold off, and new settlements are springing up in their place. "This is a direct obstacle to the region's restoration. There's a sense of complete impunity, and it's clear that corruption is rampant," he says.

In the Kazbekovsky district, he said, nearly 100 hectares of land were put up for auction in 2024 and ultimately sold to a single buyer. "Chechens were also invited to the auction, but the land was ultimately awarded to an Avar. We can't even get plots under the same conditions—sometimes even unofficially," the activist lamented.

We are not even given land to rebuild our own houses.

According to him, Laks and Avars, including members of the SVO, who are allocated land plots, are also systematically resettled in the disputed areas. "Every year their numbers grow, while our representation dwindles. We aren't even given land to rebuild our own homes," he notes.

The activist believes that it was after the September meeting at the federal level that the issue was taken seriously. "I think they finally understood that corruption directly leads to increased interethnic tensions," he said, emphasizing that the movement had never previously held meetings at this level, and information about the failure to implement the law on the rehabilitation of repressed peoples had not reached federal agencies for a long time.

In his opinion, after 30 years of collective efforts to restore the region, the Aukhov residents no longer have any hope in the Dagestani authorities, and they are forced to appeal directly to the federal center.

The activist drew attention to the unequal conditions of resettlement. "Houses are built for the displaced and compensation is paid. At best, Chechens are offered their dilapidated housing, and then they have to do everything themselves. There are many cases where Chechens buy their own land," he explained.

The man cited a personal story as an example, noting that he's been trying to get his grandfather's house back for 15 years. "A naughty woman lives there now – the director of a kindergarten. She refuses to return my own yard. I've taken the matter to the legal level, and we'll see how it goes," he said.

According to him, four of more than a dozen historical villages in the Novolaksky District were returned to the Chechens: Yamansu, Banayurt, Barchkhoyotar, and Zoriotar. The last two were merged into a single village with a single village administration.

Chechens in Aukh have no hope for the district's recovery after the official's arrest

Aidiyev's arrest is the result of a broad and protracted systemic problem, according to Chechen public figure Sultan Kasimov .

He explained that Aidiyev's name is associated with "extending the resettlement process as much as possible." "By artificially inflating the number of resettlers, granting them the appropriate status for a fee, and by selling land with impunity—both in the resettlement zone and in the territory of the future Aukhovsky District," Kasimov told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The activist doesn't believe the arrest is directly related to the activists' appeals to the federal center or the closed meeting in Moscow. He believes the case has a more pragmatic motivation. "More likely, this is a 'call' to discredit the Department of Resettlement and Rehabilitation itself. Apparently, everyone is tired of this indiscriminate 'milking'—it's become uncomfortable for the federal budget," he believes.

This will lead to a whole series of problems for this entire corruption trough.

The activist emphasizes that he considers it premature to discuss the origin of the criminal prosecution—Moscow or the republic. "While the investigation is ongoing, I don't want to go into the details of the criminal case. But I can say for sure: this will have consequences and will lead to a whole host of troubles for this entire corruption trough," Kasimov added.

Asked about Aidiyev's role and the main complaints against him from the Aukhovites, the activist stated that he doesn't consider him the only or key link in the established system. "It benefited everyone—from the government to the displaced person. Everything was done using all the power structures, while only those being rehabilitated suffered," he explained.

According to Kasimov, the delay in restoring the Aukh district was deliberate. "By burying the last of Aukh's elderly and now the children of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, everything was moving toward restoring the district when its value would be zero," he stated.

Aidiyev's arrest has no impact on either the rehabilitation or the situation of Chechens in Dagestan.

The activist is skeptical about any changes that may occur following Aidiyev's arrest. "We don't expect any changes. Aidiyev's arrest has no impact on either the rehabilitation or the situation of Chechens in Dagestan. But the very fact [of the investigation's attention to the land distribution] gives us some hope," he said.

Kasimov believes that arrests and investigations may continue, but the key problem remains the lack of political will. "The arrests and imprisonments will continue, but for now, the executive authorities' focus on implementing the federal law on the rehabilitation of repressed peoples remains unchanged," the activist emphasized.

He also doesn't believe Aidiyev's case is aimed at undermining the political authority of the head of Dagestan. "I wouldn't say this arrest is aimed at undermining the authority of the republic's head. Rather, it's a signal for more decisive action in the future—to strengthen oversight of funds allocated from the federal budget," he noted.

The activist places social responsibility for what's happening not only on the government but also on society. He emphasized that the tragedy of one people should not become a source of benefit for others. "You can't cry and laugh at the same time. The tragedy of one of the peoples of Dagestan should not enrich other peoples of the same republic," he concluded.

As a reminder, in September 2024, Dagestani investigators suspected officials from the Novolaksky District of fraud in land plot registration. According to the Investigative Committee, district administration employees prepared false documents to transfer plots in the village of Novolakskoye to 40 residents who were not resettlers.

Although the Investigative Committee claimed that officials attempted to illegally transfer 40 plots of land into private hands, the actual number of such plots  may be tens of times greater , said Arbi Batyrsultanov, Chairman of the Aukh Public Council. 

In March 2024, residents of the village of Gamiyakh in the Novolaksky District called on the head of Dagestan to impose a moratorium on land privatization in the area where the Aukhovsky District is to be restored.