MOSCOW, November 23 (R-Sport) - The new chairman of big-spending Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala has made a "strategic" priority out of bringing European football to insurgency-plagued Dagestan.
European governing body UEFA caused consternation in the impoverished southern province by banning Anzhi from holding Europa League matches there, citing safety concerns.
The club have played home games in Moscow instead, but Konstantin Remuchukov, announced as chairman of the board Friday, vowed to change minds.
"There is a number of strategic objectives: strengthening the team, returning international matches to Makhachkala, building a new Anzhi Arena stadium in Makhachkala," Remchukov told R-Sport.
Remchukov is also the editor-in-chief of the respected Nezavisimaya Gazeta newspaper.
Guus Hiddink's side secured qualification for the Europa League knockout stage with a game to spare on Thursday, beating Udinese 2-0 on goals from Christopher Samba and Samuel Eto'o.
Dagestan is seen as a hotbed of terrorist activity and the origin of several deadly attacks over the last few years.
As recently as May, 14 people were killed and 122 wounded in suicide blasts in Makhachkala.
Militants from the regions were blamed for the double suicide blast of the Moscow subway in 2010 that killed 40 people.
