MOSCOW, January 19 (RAPSI) – A criminal case has been launched against mayor of Dagestan's capital Makhachkala Musa Musayev on suspicion of abuse of authority, the Investigative Committee’s press service reports Friday.

Investigators claim that in March 2016, the suspect transferred a municipal land plot with an area of about 17,500 square meters to the Construction and Industrial Joint-Stock Complex for 1.1 million rubles ($19,500).

According to an expert opinion, the market value of this plot reaches over 81 million rubles (about $1.5 million). Musayev has violated legally protected interests of the state and caused damage to the budget of Republic of Dagestan estimated at around 80 million rubles, the investigators’ statement reads.