Civil Lawsuit Targets Dagestans High-Ranking Official Over Alleged Privatization Scandal | World | london-news-net.preview-domain.com

Civil Lawsuit Targets Dagestans High-Ranking Official Over Alleged Privatization Scandal

June 28, 2025

State prosecutors initiated a civil lawsuit earlier this week against senior Dagestani official Magomed-Sultan Magomedov as part of an ongoing inquiry into alleged unlawful privatization activities.

Magomedov, who has held the position of Dagestan’s state secretary since 2021, was reportedly detained on Wednesday in Makhachkala following searches at numerous properties associated with him and his relatives. Telegram channels connected to Russian security services indicated that the investigation pertains to the purported illegal privatization of the petroleum distributor Dagnefteprodukt back in 2005.

According to Russia’s judicial database, the country’s deputy prosecutor lodged a civil lawsuit on Monday against Magomedov, along with five other individuals—four of whom share his patronymic—and two companies. Additionally, three other firms were identified as third parties in the proceedings.

The lawsuit did not clarify the specific legal basis or accusations involved.

Dagestan’s court press service informed state media that authorities are aiming to nationalize an oil refinery owned by the Magomedov family and transfer it, along with other assets, to the state.

Magomedov was the CEO of Dagnefteprodukt from 1991 to 2005. The company was restructured in 2021 and currently operates under the name Kaspetrolservis, which is mentioned as one of the third parties in the lawsuit.

Kaspetrolservis is a part of MSB Holding, which is led by Magomedov’s son, Magomed Magomedov, as reported by RBC news website. Both MSB Holding and the younger Magomedov are included among the eight defendants.

On Thursday, the Sovetsky District Court in Makhachkala favored the prosecutors, ruling to nationalize Kaspetrolservis.

A federal official familiar with the situation characterized Magomedov to RBC as one of the most powerful figures in Dagestan, noting that law enforcement had delayed action against him for years “for various reasons,” despite ongoing concerns.

The Kommersant business newspaper reported that Magomedov received a presidential commendation from Dagestan’s regional head, Sergei Melikov, on June 12, just under two weeks prior to his arrest. Melikov’s office stated on Wednesday that they are cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation.

Preliminary hearings for the civil case are set to take place on July 10 at the Sovetsky District Court.

‘Plush Troops’: The Pro-War Children’s Toys Taking Over Russia’s Online Marketplaces Текст: “In this strategy game, you lead a battalion aiming to liberate Ukraine from Nazi rule,” reads the description of Russia’s first board game about the war in Ukraine. The game,called“Special Operation on the Outskirts,” sells for about 1,600 rubles ($20) on Russian online marketplaces. Inspired by Monopoly and designed for two to six players, the game challenges participants to occupy as many Ukrainian cities as possible. Instead of Monopoly money, players use a fictional currency featuring the faces of President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and former General Sergei Surovikin. In the fourth year of the full-scale invasion, toys and merchandise featuring the pro-war Z symbol have become increasingly common on Russian marketplaces and social media. Listings include everything from car dashboard decorations to toy soldiers for children. “The plot grabs you from the first minutes. It’s great that part of the proceeds go to support participants of the special military operation. The perfect gift for patriots!”writesYekaterina, a recent buyer. Other reviewers share that they gave the game to their sons on Defenders of the Fatherland Day. Another board game, “Couch Expert,” promises to educate players about the invasion. Players have 30 seconds to answer questions about the progress of the “special operation.” Questions range from the late ultranationalist politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s position on the war to the roles of figures like Elon Musk and propagandist Olga Skabeyeva in shaping сoverage of the invasion. “I ordered 11 of them for school as gifts for the boys. But I got lucky — the boxes came wrapped in film, so it’s not embarrassing to give them. Thanks,”writesa woman named Natalia in a review. These toys span all price ranges, from an acrylic Z-minionto aroly-polytoy bearing the pro-war slogan “You can’t knock us down.” The latter sells for about 500 rubles ($6). “The idea to create a patriotic roly-poly toy came five years ago, when the Russian team was banned from competing under the national flag at the Olympics in Korea,”saysDmitry Zavidov, director of the Kotovsky Roly-Polies company. On VKontakte, Yulia from Moscowsells“knitted fighters” shaped like a tiger, mouse or dog. Each animal, stitched with a Z or V,costs1,500 rubles ($18). For an extra 250 rubles, Yulia offers to embroider a soldier’s callsign on the toy’s flak vest. “Any other inscription of your choice is also possible (price depends on the size),”readsthe product description. On some marketplaces, similar toys arepricedat around 1,100 rubles ($14). Another item on the market is a stuffedraccoonmarked with the Z symbol, a reference to the raccoon that Russian troops infamously stole from a zoo during their retreat from the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson. Sellers alsoofferstuffed bears in military uniforms with Z and V insignia. In some cases, the toys arehandmadeby widows of Russian soldiers. For younger children, “patriotic”coloring bookssell for about 300 rubles ($3.73). “My child is four. He liked it,” says one mother in a review. Some parents post videos of their children coloring tanks and other Russian military equipment. For about the same price, sellers alsooffera set of toy soldiers called the “Special Operation Recon Soldiers Set.” “Toy figures of the Russian Armed Forces will delight children with their quality and design. They’re perfect for role-playing games and help develop creativity and imagination,” the manufacturer claims. War-related games and toys may hold particular appeal for children,explainspsychologist Michael Brandl, a member of the German toy evaluation group Spiel Gut. One reason for their appeal, he says, is that they offer positive reinforcement of the media and propaganda messaging that children encounter daily. “From these sources, children form an image of a person they then try to imitate and act out in roleplay. Weapons and how to use them become part of the child’s perceived reality and a key attribute of the supposed image of the ‘ideal’ man,” Brandlwrote. A child psychologist from Russia, whose name has been withheld for safety reasons, voiced a similar view. “This is a protracted war, so the state and Vladimir Putin need boys, even from kindergarten, to already be preparing for the future battlefield,” the psychologist told The Moscow Times. “First, the state turns poor women into mothers who buy these toy soldiers. Then this Z-patriotism is nurtured with a mother’s milk. They’ll buy it without even noticing the Z, especially if it’s on sale.” Marketplaces also offer stuffed cat car decorations in camouflage colors that cost about 500 rubles ($6.20). In addition to a toy with the Russian tricolor and the letter Z, the manufacturer alsooffersa version bearing the Wagner mercenary group’s skull emblem. “You sent me a female cat, apparently — no male features and no Z. I specifically needed a male cat with a Z on it! I refused the order at pickup,”complainsa buyer named Elena. Other buyers note that the toy’s tail fell off quickly. Even toy robots are marked with the Z symbol. A set of these toys costing 784 rubles ($9.70) includes a robot with a Russian flag and weapons. For an extra 200 rubles, itcomeswith a glow-in-the-dark Z. “Satisfied with the purchase. Russia will win! Russia always wins!”saysMaria, who bought the Z-robot for her son, in her review.

rimmaruslan98@gmail.com June 13, 2025

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