A new ACF investigation is about State Duma deputy Sultan Khamzaev, who used the tragedy in Dagestan to promote himself and build his media image.

Dagestan has suffered a real catastrophe. People died, thousands of homes were flooded, and tens of thousands were left alone with their losses. But instead of real help, residents got a United Russia politician with a camera, eager to turn the disaster into a PR opportunity.

While people were trying to save their homes and get assistance, Sultan Khamzaev was busy filming videos, staging performative “inspections,” and pretending to take action. At the same time, as the investigation shows, he used assistants paid from the state budget to manufacture his personal media image.

This story shows how Putin’s entire system of power — and United Russia itself — actually works: they do not care about people, they try to avoid responsibility, spend as little as possible on real help, and make sure to put themselves in front of cameras at every opportunity.

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