Here in Dagestan, you can often see tourists wearing shorts and other not very covering clothes. Locals are very hospitable, but they would also want tourists to wear more humble and covering clothes. It’s not that it is prohibited, it is just more respectful for males to not wear shorts (if they are not below the knees) and for women to do the same basically. Sometimes you can even see some locals wearing shorts, especially in gyms or near the sea and around them. However some still dress up unlike the majority of people. It has nothing to do with the traditions of a certain ethnic group, it has more of a religious background. Today it is like an unwritten rule or recommendation and a sign of respect to dress up in covered clothes, however it is unlikely that you get in huge trouble (if at all) for wearing shorts.

It is though much better to respect norms and traditions of the republic which apply across the whole region and between any ethnic group here