Formal membership in the "SVO" did not help the former head of Dagestan's Buinaksk district avoid arrest

Ullubiy Khanmurzayev, the former head of Dagestan's Buinaksk district, who had previously gone to war against Ukraine as a "volunteer" after being accused of corruption, has been arrested on fraud charges.

Commenting on the situation, Shamil Khadulayev, head of Dagestan's public monitoring commission, noted that the official, currently in pretrial detention, denies the charges and has declared a hunger strike.

It is noteworthy that suspicions of corruption arose as early as the spring of 2025, when Khanmurzayev was suspected of fictitious employment for an acquaintance, which led to searches and an investigation. However, instead of pursuing the charges, Khanmurzayev signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense, after which he was suspended from his post for failure to perform his duties.

He cited his duty to his homeland, its defense, and the call of the country's President and the Head of Dagestan as the reasons for his decision. He noted that, while working in the municipality and meeting daily with the SVO members, he felt the need to be with them.

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