Dagestan to vote on Magomedsalam Magomedov on February 10

On February 10, an extraordinary session of the National Assembly of Dagestan will take place to vote on Magomedsalam Magomedov, nominated by Russian President Medvedev to the post of the republic's president. It is expected that Alexander Khloponin, Mr Medvedev's plenipotentiary for the NCFD (North-Caucasian Federal District), will present the nominee.

Magomed Suleimanov, Chairman of the National Assembly of Dagestan, expressed, at his meeting with journalists, his attitude to Dmitri Medvedev's nominee.

"Many of the MPs are ready to vote today," said the Speaker. "Magomedsalam Magomedov is our colleague; we know him for a long time and approve and support Mr Medvedev's choice."

Members of the faction "Patriots of Russia" will vote for Magomedov. It was already stated by the MPs from this party - Eduard Khidirov and Fikret Radzhabov.

One of the MPs, who preferred to remain anonymous, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that there is some concern that some of the deputies from among supporters of Mukhu Aliev may try if to not to disrupt the voting, but make a demarche.

"However, it won't affect the outcome," said the source. "Nobody wants to demonstrate his/her disloyalty to the new president, since it may have far-reaching consequences. The National Assembly of Dagestan has 72 MPs, and it's least probable that more than half of them will stonewall the voting."