On Sunday, hundreds of people gathered at the airport of Makhachkala, the capital of the Republic of Dagestan, to demonstrate against the plane that landed from Israel.
On Sunday, hundreds of people gathered in Russia at the airport of the capital of the Republic of Dagestan, Makhachkala, to demonstrate against the plane that landed from Israel. The majority of Dagestan’s inhabitants are Muslims.
Health authorities said on the Telegram messaging service that numerous people were injured in the incident. The Russian aviation authority soon announced that it had closed the airport for departing and arriving flights. According to the authorities, the airport will remain closed until November 6.
According to Russian media, the crowd shouted anti-Semitic slogans and tried to storm the plane. In videos circulating on social media, the crowd carried Palestinian flags and people tried to overturn a police car. In the videos, some people also ran on the runway.
The AFP news agency could not immediately verify the videos.
According to the Dagestan administration, the security forces alerted to the scene quickly took control of the situation.
Israel demands action from Russia
Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu the chancellery issued a press release in the evening, in which the country said it “expects the Russian police force to protect the safety of all Israeli citizens and Jews”. The press release also demanded decisive action from Russia towards the demonstrators. In addition, Israel demanded action against both Jews and incitement against Israel.
The North Caucasus Office of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs responded that the agency uses surveillance camera footage to identify those who rushed to the airport.
The government of Dagestan appealed to citizens to remain calm and not to participate in these demonstrations. Earlier on Sunday, also in the neighboring republic of Dagestan in Chechnya, the region’s minister of information Ahmed Dudayev urged people to remain calm despite the heightened tensions in the Caucasus region.
Governor of Dagestan Sergei Melikov demanded punishment for the participants on his Telegram channel.
– What happened at our airport is outrageous, and it would be necessary to get an assessment from law enforcement.
Source: AP, AFP
Updated the news at 0:06 with the number of injured and Melikov’s comment.