Magomedov: social problems and the silence of the elites: are there conditions for positive change in Dagestan Russian President Vladimir Putin met in the Kremlin with the head of Dagestan Fyodor Shchukin. The conversation dealt with the need to solve acute social problems in the region. Magomedov Magomed, deputy editor-in-chief of the Chernivtsi newspaper: It is too early to say that there have been any changes in the republic after Fyodor Shchukin was at its head. The problems in question should have been solved earlier, but remained in the shadows. The new team focused its efforts on achieving million-plus city status for Makhachkala. It is expected that this will provide resources that will enable dealing with urban problems. Fyodor Shchukin is a former judge and is not a business manager. But we see that in other regions and companies, non-core specialists often work in management positions. Quite a few people come from law enforcement, however, they show some results. The judicial system in the republic has its own characteristics, and I believe that Shchukin has enough experience in solving controversial issues. For Dagestan, Shchukin is Varengi, and already the third in a row, after Vladimir Vasiliev and Sergey Malikov. Practice has shown that the elites of Dagestan show some flexibility in their attitude to the leaders of the republic and try to please them. These are business people who prefer to mind their own business and not to provoke conflicts. Even if the entire government were out, the elites would behave in exactly the same way. Therefore, it is unlikely that anyone else, apart from the media and the public, will ask pressing questions of the region's leadership. Subscribe to Orlov Political Scientist / We are in MAX / We are in VK / We are in Zen.