Dagestan's head, Sergei Melikov, dismissed rumors of his imminent resignation, stating that he is focused on dealing with the aftermath of the emergency and helping the victims. He noted that while he is busy addressing the republic's pressing issues, "passions are running high" in political circles and the media in Dagestan.

Melikov expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that, instead of discussing assistance for those affected by the floods, there are attacks on him.

"For several days now, passions have been running high in the media and on social media. They're not discussing the emergency situation and the aid people are waiting for, but political 'news,' competing to see who can rake in the biggest shovel and throw the biggest lump of dirt at me. All this is being done behind my back, and I really want to respond with a quote from the film 'Only Old Men Are Going to Battle': 'Come out and fight one-on-one. I won't hit you on takeoff.'" "I've never hidden from danger or from people, and I won't do so now either!" the head of the republic declared.

He promised to hold a press conference later to answer all questions.

Earlier, media reported on Melikov's possible resignation in May 2026. Magomed Ramazanov, Deputy Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District, was named as his likely successor. According to the VChK-OGPU Telegram channel, Magomed Ramazanov has close ties to Dagestan senator and billionaire Suleiman Kerimov. They allegedly began communicating personally when Ramazanov worked in Directorate "K," the so-called Fourth Service of the FSB, responsible for counterintelligence in the financial sector.