Russian MP’s Visit to Flood-Stricken Daghestan Sparks Outrage
Daghestan, Russia – A visit by a Russian MP to assess the aftermath of devastating floods in Daghestan has triggered widespread anger and criticism. Biysultan Khamzaev, a member of the ruling United Russia party, travelled to Mamedkala, a village severely impacted by the second wave of flooding caused by the breach of the Gedzhukh Dam, on April 10th. Khamzaev’s actions drew condemnation after a public rebuke of Russian blogger Mikhail Litvin, who donated ₽2 million ($22,000) to flood relief efforts.
Residents reported that Khamzaev’s assistance was limited to a few bags of building sand and that his attire – a camo hat and galoshes – was perceived as inappropriate and obstructive. Litvin, who had previously donated ₽2 million ($26,000) to the Tooba platform, was targeted by Khamzaev’s criticism, accusing him of using the tragedy for advertising. Residents urged Litvin to ignore the MP’s accusations.
The incident gained further attention due to Khamzaev’s association with Khabib Nurmagomedov, a celebrated MMA fighter and face of Gorilla Energy, a brand popular in Daghestan. The situation escalated when Khamzaev posted a video of himself seemingly rescuing a kitten, which was later widely circulated as a staged clip. This further fueled criticism of his conduct and the disruption it caused to a separate charity initiative involving a Chechen blogger.
Despite the controversy, a massive private charitable drive was underway in Daghestan. By April 13th, the Tooba platform had raised nearly ₽742 million ($9.7 million) from over 300,000 donors, marking the largest campaign of its kind in Russia. A petition to remove Khamzaev’s MP status has been filed.
The episode highlights the challenges of delivering aid effectively in a crisis and the sensitivities surrounding public perception within Daghestan.
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