The Kremlin's reticence has raised questions about the outcome of Melikov's report.

The report on Vladimir Putin's meeting with Sergei Melikov took up only two lines on the Kremlin website, while the head of the republic reported on his Telegram channel that he spoke about Dagestan's economic achievements and support for the North Caucasus Military District. According to sources, Melikov requested 20 billion rubles for a number of projects, including the construction of an ice arena.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot," Sergei Bachurin, head of the North Caucasus Federal District Ministry of Internal Affairs, cited unresolved issues in the housing and utilities sector as a factor in the rise in protest activity in Dagestan at a meeting of the Dagestan Ministry of Internal Affairs board on January 19. Makhachkala residents interviewed by "Caucasian Knot" agreed with his opinion. Reports of long power outages, problems with heating and water supply come in from the cities of the republic almost daily: for example, on January 21, many residents of Makhachkala were left without electricity due to another accident, and on January 25 in Makhachkala a pipeline burst, leaving residents without water for almost two days. Dagestani journalists and residents of the republic, in response to the publication of the head of the Center for Regional Policy Development, who called Sergei Melikov “a good anti-crisis manager,” recalled that the republic is faced with a collapse of the housing and utilities sector, threatening political stability.

Dagestan Head Sergei Melikov reported on his meeting with the Russian President on his Telegram page. According to him, during the meeting, he reported on the support of the SVO participants and their families, and the growth in the republic "in all indicators of socio-economic development," including the successes of farmers.

"In my conversation with Vladimir Vladimirovich, I touched on many other topics – water supply, tourism, establishing a solid municipal waste management system, roads, relocation from dilapidated housing, the development of sports, culture, and youth education. In some places, we started from scratch, in others, we had to clear away rubble. But we've set a good pace, and we don't plan to stop. We also discussed problems, of course, primarily electricity supply issues. Along with restoring outdated networks, we are developing new areas – the republic is among the leaders in Russia in the development of "green" energy, we are building solar and wind power plants, and investors are coming to us," Melikov wrote on his Telegram channel on March 6.

Many issues that we We've been raising issues for years, and they've finally moved forward.

According to him, he received "full support." "The president hears us, supports us, and trusts us. Many issues we've been raising for years have finally moved forward and will soon yield results that every family in Dagestan will feel," Melikov assured.

However, the Kremlin website only has a two-line report on the meeting. "Moscow, Kremlin. The President held a working meeting with the head of the Republic of Dagestan, Sergei Melikov. Vladimir Putin received the head of Dagestan, Sergei Melikov, in the Kremlin as part of his ongoing work with the regions of the Russian Federation."

Novoe Delo drew attention to the Kremlin's brevity, noting that when in previous cases reports on meetings between the Russian president and the heads of the republic were similarly brief, this was soon followed by their resignation. Thus, after a meeting with Putin on February 15, 2006, the Chairman of the State Council of the Republic of Dagestan (at that time, this was the name of the position of the head of the republic - Ed. "Caucasian Knot") Magomedali Magomedov , following which a two-line text was published on the Kremlin website, Magomedov told journalists right at the airport that at a meeting with the president he had expressed his desire resign.

A similar short text appeared on the Kremlin website after the meeting between Putin and Mukhu Aliyev, whose candidacy was not submitted to the republic's parliament for a new term, the publication says.

Melikov appealed to the president with a request for funding, writes Chernovik.

The head of Dagestan, Sergei Melikov, asked Russian President Vladimir Putin for 20 billion rubles and an ice arena, Chernovik reported today, citing a source in the Dagestan government.

8.94 billion rubles for the completion of 7 projects for the reconstruction of sewage treatment facilities in the Makhachkala-Caspian agglomeration; 6.9 billion rubles for the technological connection of the tourist cluster under construction near Derbent; 1.5 billion under the program for resettlement of housing from dilapidated buildings; "1.9 billion rubles for the resettlement of orphans in accordance with court decisions that have entered into force," the publication states.

"Wonderful: on long winter evenings, when an old transformer burns out and the power and heat go out in Makhachkala residents' homes, people will flock to the bright ice palace," one reader of the Telegram channel commented.

"After such reports from Dagestan Head Sergei Melikov to Russian President Vladimir Putin, one gets the feeling that he is talking about some other Dagestan—one where there are no power outages." Lights, broken roads, and crumbling facades in the center of Makhachkala. On paper, there are hundreds of buildings, thousands of pieces of equipment, and record-breaking performance.
But on the streets, there are potholes, power outages, and constant "temporary difficulties," Chernovik quoted another reader as saying.