A Dagestani Hajj operator has promised to return money to pilgrims.

Residents of Dagestan who purchased Hajj packages accused the Derbent-Tour company of compromising the tour. The Hajj operator promised to refund their money.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," in 2025, the Hajj quota for Dagestan, which amounts to over 10,000 places, was completely filled: there were more people willing to perform the pilgrimage than available places.

In Dagestan, about 200 people were deprived of the opportunity to make the pilgrimage to Mecca in 2025, the Telegram channel Baza reported today. According to unnamed sources, the cost of the trip was $5,700. In total, about 200 people paid, and the total amount exceeded $1.2 million.

Today, a message was published on the Instagram page of the company "Derbent-Tour" in response to the criticism. "Part of what happened is related to the actions of individuals who were not authorized to act on behalf of the company and violated the trust placed in them. In particular, a case was recorded where the wife of one of the former employees, acting without the knowledge of company management, independently sold 12 Hajj vouchers and pocketed the proceeds. Neither company management nor the employee were notified of these actions. The funds in question were never deposited into the company's accounts and were not reflected in its financial statements. Despite this, all 12 people were sent to Hajj at the company's expense," today's post states.

The company promises to refund the money to the pilgrims who did not go to Hajj, without specifying the number or the timeframe for the refund.

"The refund process for the victims has already begun and will continue until each person has been fully reimbursed. Refunds are made to the extent possible, including situations in which the company did not directly receive the funds but is committed to completing the process." "For our part, we declare that we are open to all forms of litigation, including Sharia court, and are ready to confirm our position based on the available evidence and facts," the company said in a post.

The cost of the Hajj from Dagestan in 2025 varies depending on the program and selected class. There are, in particular, "Economy," "Standard," "Comfort," and "Luxury" packages, offering different levels of service and meals. Prices can start at $5,000 and reach $10,000 for the luxury package. Prices have increased due to the appreciation of the dollar against the ruble, rising prices for hotels, transportation, and meals in Mecca and Medina, as well as stricter requirements from Saudi Arabia, including the requirement for biometric passports and vaccinations, a representative of the Dagestan Muftiate previously told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.