Mukhu Aliev in the lead to be the next President of Dagestan, experts believe

Opinions differ in Dagestan as to the chances of the five candidates for presidency, approved on November 19.

The list presented to President of Russia includes: incumbent President of Dagestan Mukhu Aliev; Saigidhussein Magomedov, head of the Republic's Department of the Federal Exchequer; Magomed Abdullaev, Vice-Premier of Dagestan; Magomed Magomedov, assistant to Chairman of the Council of Federation; and Magomedsalam Magomedov, former speaker of the National Assembly of Dagestan and son of the former republic's leader Magomedali Magomedov.

Marko Shakhbanov, editor-in-chief of the Dagestan-based weekly "Novoe Delo" (New Business) thinks that the last candidate in the list is among outsiders.
"Apart of Mukhu Aliev, quite good chances are with Magomed Magomedov, assistant to Chairman of the Council of Federation," said Mr Shakhbanov. "Should the incumbent President of Dagestan Mukhu Aliev fail to be approved for whatever reasons, he will recommend, most likely, Magomed Abdullaev, current Vice-Premier."

Enver Kisriev, head of the Caucasus sector at the Centre for Civilization and Regional Studies of the Russian Academy of Science, believes that in the list offered to Russian President has no rival to Mukhu Aliev. "This list is just for beauty, it's a proforma," the expert believes.