Ex-Dagestan Head Sergei Melikov Appointed Senator From Bryansk Region

Sep. 30, 2026 Sergei Melikov. President.e-dag.ru Sergei Melikov, the former head of the republic of Dagestan, has been appointed as a senator from the western Bryansk region in Russia’s upper-house Federation Council. Melikov, a member of the ruling United Russia party, replaced Vadim Dengin, a member of the far-right Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) who ran for the lower-house State Duma in this month’s elections. Melikov previously served as a Federation Council senator from the southern Stavropol region between 2019 and 2020 before President Vladimir Putin appointed him as regional head of Dagestan. Russia’s Federation Council is an unelected assembly of regional representatives and presidential appointees. Bryansk region Governor Yegor Kovalchuk signed a decree appointing Melikov as senator. Melikov, a former high-ranking military officer who served in the First Chechen War, resigned from his post in Dagestan in May following deadly floods that decimated the mountainous region. Though appointed to stabilize one of Russia’s most complex regions, Melikov struggled to address Dagestan’s chronic infrastructure issues, with frequent power outages and poor road conditions plaguing the republic. Read more about: Bryansk , Federation Council Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Ukrainian Drone Strike Targets Bus Carrying Belarusian Youth Soccer Team in Bryansk Region, Killing 1 Russian authorities said a woman was killed and six people, including children, were hospitalized following the attack. 1 Min read FSB Says It Killed Members of Ukrainian Sabotage Group in Bryansk Region Three members of the alleged sabotage group were also captured, the FSB said, adding that they were involved in terrorist attacks inside Russia. 2 Min read Bryansk Vice Governor Charged With Embezzling Border Defense Funds – TASS Officers from the FSB and the Interior Ministry’s financial crimes and anti-corruption unit reportedly searched Nikolai Simonenko’s home and office... 2 Min read Russian Boy Awarded Medal for 'Bravery' During Bryansk Attack The 10-year-old wounded in a deadly attack in Russia’s Bryansk region on Thursday has been awarded a medal. 1 Min read