Makhachkala detentions highlight authorities' intolerance of protest

In Makhachkala, the mass detentions prove not the high level of protest activity, but the zeal of the police who follow the instructions of the federal centre, suggest Magomed Magomedov and Gadjimurad Sagitov, editors-in-chief of local newspapers. The popularity of Alexei Navalny in Dagestan is low, but residents of the republic express a positive attitude towards the oppositionist's anti-corruption activities, political analyst Eduard Urazaev believes.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on January 23, when activists were holding rallies throughout the whole Russia in support Alexei Navalny, the Makhachkala police carried out mass detentions.

In Dagestan, not many people came to the protest actions in support of Alexei Navalny, and the scale of the detentions on January 23 suggests that many random people got into police stations, notes Magomed Magomedov, the deputy editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Chernovik" (Rough Draft).

In general, the attitude towards Alexei Navalny in Dagestan improved against the background of his arrest, in particular, after the oppositionist explained that his slogan "Stop feeding the Caucasus" was directed against the local authorities, and not against ordinary residents, Magomed Magomedov emphasized.

"In Dagestan, the attitude towards Alexei Navalny is ambiguous, but he is gaining more and more supporters in the Caucasus," concluded Magomed Magomedov.

The journalist explains the rise in the oppositionist's popularity by the fact that residents of Northern Caucasus support the Alexei Navalny's fight against corruption.

Meanwhile, according to Magomed Magomedov, residents of Dagestan do not support Alexei Navalny as a politician or as a presidential candidate.

According to political analyst Eduard Urazaev, many people began to sympathize with Alexei Navalny after his poisoning. In general, according to the Eduard Urazaev's version, the support of Alexei Navalny is associated with the people's dissatisfaction with the "unfair distribution of public wealth, corruption, and unlawful actions of the law enforcement bodies."