It's not the first time he's landed in the dock, having lost his post and been thrown out of the ruling United Russia party in June when he was arrested for the murder of the head of the city's investigations department. Amirov denies all charges, insisting the accusations against him are politically motivated. Despite an assassination attempt leaving him confined to a wheelchair, Amirov was widely held to be the most powerful politician in Dagestan - considered Russia's most volatile region. In January, President Vladimir Putin dismissed its leader , after he was seen as unable to deal with Islamist insurgents and criminal gangs, installing Ramzan Abdulatipov in his place.