World press on Dagestani president's dismissal (January 30, 2013)

On January 30th The Moscow Times published an article by Yulia Latynina entitled 'The Kremlin's 3-Ring Circus in Dagestan.'

"It seems Magomedov was ousted as leader but appointed Putin's deputy chief of staff. If Magomedov was a great leader, why remove him? But if he was, say, drinking and handing out posts in his administration for money, why appoint him to a top post in the Kremlin? It almost looks as if Magomedov flew to Moscow with a suitcase full of cash in a bid to keep his job but in vain because the Dagestani post had already been sold to somebody else. How else can you explain this strange reshuffle? The only thing I can surmise is that the seller offered Magomedov the job in the presidential administration as a consolation prize," Latynina writes.

"There are two reasons why it is impossible to stop the incursion of Islamists. First, Islamism is a new totalitarian ideology making inroads everywhere, from Egypt to Norway. Considering that British authorities have been unable to stop its growing influence, it would be foolish to think that it will prove any easier in Dagestan," the article reads.

"The second reason is the Kremlin's incompetent administration. A fish rots from the head, and the mess in the North Caucasus begins in the Kremlin, with its circus acts of ridiculous appointments and dismissals. Not only are the top government posts in the regions bought and sold but apparently the same thing happens in the presidential administration in Moscow as well."