Russian President Convenes High-Level Security Meeting Following Dagestani Airport Incident Involving Israeli Passengers

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin gathered senior officials from the nation’s security and law enforcement agencies for an emergency meeting. This gathering came in the wake of a chaotic incident on Sunday at the Makhachkala airport in Dagestan, where a plane from Tel Aviv, Israel had landed.

A large crowd of agitated individuals stormed the airport’s tarmac in Makhachkala, the administrative center of the predominantly Muslim province, with the alleged aim of identifying Israeli passengers on the newly arrived flight, as per multiple Russian media reports.

Dagestan’s Health Ministry reported that the incident led to injuries for over 20 individuals, including both law enforcement and civilians. Two of the injured are in critical condition. Meanwhile, the regional Interior Ministry stated that 60 people were arrested during the upheaval. Russia’s Investigative Committee has initiated a criminal investigation into the organization of mass disorder, although it remains uncertain whether formal charges have been levied against the detained individuals.

Witnesses and media reports suggest that the mob was able to encircle the airplane, operated by Russian airline Red Wings, with minimal obstruction from local police forces.

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Photographs and video clips circulating on social media depicted certain individuals in the mob waving Palestinian flags and attempting to overturn a police vehicle. Hand-written signs were also visible, bearing messages such as “Child killers are not welcome in Dagestan” and “We oppose Jewish refugees.”

Members of the crowd took it upon themselves to scrutinize the passports of incoming passengers, ostensibly to identify Israeli nationals. The mob was subsequently dispersed by authorities.

Russia’s civil aviation body, Rosaviatsia, announced that Makhachkala airport would remain closed until 3 a.m. on Tuesday.

In a Monday press briefing, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov attributed the unrest to external influences and stated that the meeting convened by Putin would examine “Western efforts to exploit Middle Eastern events to sow discord within Russian society.”

Separately, Dagestan Governor Sergei Melikov alleged that the chaos was orchestrated via a Telegram channel managed by “traitors” located in Ukraine, aiming to destabilize Dagestan and incite further disorder. This claim was reported by Russia’s state-run news agency, RIA Novosti, but could not be independently verified.

Russia has cautiously criticized both parties in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, leveraging the situation to bolster its position as a global mediator while also countering Western attempts to marginalize it due to its activities in Ukraine.

In response to the events in Dagestan, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement expressing expectations that Russian authorities would ensure the safety of all Israelis and Jews, and act decisively against those participating in the riots.

Dagestani authorities, while sympathizing with the plight of Palestinians in Gaza, urged local citizens to refrain from engaging in such protests. Dagestan’s Supreme Mufti Sheikh Akhmad Afandi likewise called for peace in a video message disseminated via Telegram.

Governor Melikov vowed punitive actions against those involved in the violent incident and expressed his condemnation on Telegram, stating that the events at the airport were “intolerable and warrant appropriate legal repercussions.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Dagestani Airport Incident involving Israeli Passengers

More about Dagestani Airport Incident involving Israeli Passengers

• Russian Investigative Committee on Mass Unrest Charges
• Health Ministry of Dagestan Injury Report
• Kremlin’s Official Statement on Dagestani Incident
• Rosaviatsia Announcement on Makhachkala Airport Closure
• Statement from Israeli Prime Minister’s Office
• RIA Novosti Report on Dagestan Governor’s Claims
• Regional Interior Ministry on Detainments
• Media Coverage on Palestinian Flags and Banners at Incident
• Supreme Mufti of Dagestan’s Message on Telegram