Israeli Ambassador Reveals Tel Aviv Travelers Took Shelter in Airport During Dagestan Riot

In a recent update, Israel’s envoy to Moscow, Alexander Ben Zvi, disclosed new information concerning the civil unrest that erupted over the weekend at an airport in southern Russia where a Tel Aviv-bound flight had landed. According to the ambassador, some passengers sought refuge in the terminal and were later evacuated by helicopter.

Ben Zvi attributed the Sunday night disturbance to extremist factions that he believes stem from a culture of “indoctrination” in Dagestan, a region primarily inhabited by Muslims. However, he asserted that there is no systemically organized antisemitism in Russia as a whole. He urged Russian authorities to address the incident earnestly to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

“Antisemitism exists at an everyday level, but it is crucial to prevent it from escalating into incidents like the one we witnessed in Makhachkala,” Ben Zvi stated in a digital interview with The Big Big News from Moscow. “If these issues are appropriately managed, I foresee no further complications.”

At the Makhachkala airport, the capital of Dagestan, an agitated crowd broke into the airport building shortly after the Israeli flight landed. Hundreds of individuals, some brandishing signs with antisemitic messages, scoured the facility and intruded onto the airstrip in search of Israeli passengers. Law enforcement agencies took multiple hours to disband the crowd, which engaged in stone-throwing at police officers.

The turmoil led to injuries among both law enforcement and civilians, numbering at least 20, while over 80 individuals were apprehended. Russia’s Investigative Committee has since initiated an inquiry into allegations of inciting mass disorder.

Local authorities in Dagestan confirmed the conviction of 17 people on charges of minor hooliganism and participation in an unauthorized large gathering, which are not considered criminal offenses. Fifteen of those convicted were sentenced to brief jail terms, while the remaining two were assigned correctional labor. The fate of the other detainees from Sunday night remains uncertain, as does their potential involvement in the criminal investigation.

Ben Zvi noted that of the flight’s passengers, more than 30 were Israeli nationals, none of whom sustained injuries. The travelers found themselves amidst some form of disturbance upon disembarking and passing through immigration controls. “Eventually, most of the passengers took shelter in a VIP lounge until they were airlifted to a secure location,” he elaborated.

After spending a night in a secure facility, the passengers were once again airlifted, this time to the city of Mineralnye Vody in the neighboring Stavropol region, where they continued their journeys. “While no injuries were reported among the passengers, both regional and federal authorities should scrutinize this incident carefully, as it could have resulted in casualties, thereby affecting Russia’s overall situation,” he added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attributed the disturbance to the machinations of “Western special agents” based in Ukraine, although he did not present any substantiating evidence. John Kirby, spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, dismissed Putin’s claims as typical Russian rhetoric, insisting that the West was not involved and criticizing Putin for his lack of action against the violent incident.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Ben Zvi confirmed that Israel has no intelligence suggesting external orchestration of the unrest. A statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office had earlier expressed Israel’s expectation for Russian law enforcement to protect Israeli citizens and Jews and to take decisive action against those promoting chaos and antisemitic incitement.

Regarding Israeli-Russian relations, Ben Zvi stated that they remain stable despite the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, even as disagreements persist over some of Russia’s Middle East policies. “We have our differences, and we make them known to each other,” he remarked, citing Russia’s recent hosting of a Hamas delegation as an example of a development that Israel finds displeasing.

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More about Israeli Ambassador Dagestan Airport Riot

• Israel’s Official Statement on the Dagestan Airport Incident
• Interview with Israeli Ambassador Alexander Ben Zvi
• Russia’s Investigative Committee Announcement on Dagestan Incident
• U.S. National Security Council’s Response to Dagestan Riot
• Background on Israel-Russia Relations
• Overview of Antisemitism in Russia
• Legal Response to Dagestan Airport Riot
• Associated Press Interview with Ambassador Ben Zvi
• Statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Office
• Historical Context of Antisemitism in Russia