Moscow, Russia– Russia pointed to “external interference” as the instigator of a tumultuous anti-Israel demonstration that led to the temporary closure of an airport in Dagestan. In the aftermath of a mob’s occupation of an airport in the capital of this southern Russian enclave, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov asserted, “It is widely acknowledged and manifest that the events that unfolded at Makhachkala airport yesterday are largely attributed to external forces.”
The spokesperson hinted at “ill-intentioned actors” who harnessed widely disseminated images depicting the plight in Gaza to incite unrest within the predominantly Muslim populace of the North Caucasus region. However, no specific entities or motives behind this external influence were disclosed by the Kremlin.
According to Russia’s interior ministry, approximately 60 individuals were apprehended following the occupation of Makhachkala airport by a sizable group of anti-Israel protestors shortly after an Israeli-bound plane had landed. Simultaneously, Russian President Vladimir Putin convened a high-level meeting with his top advisers, including the defense minister and intelligence chiefs, to discuss “Western attempts to exploit Middle East events in order to fracture Russian society,” as conveyed by Dmitry Peskov.
Earlier, Russia’s aviation authority took the unprecedented step of suspending operations at Dagestan’s primary airport, diverting flights in response to the mob’s actions, as they sought Israeli nationals on board a recently arrived flight from Israel.
In the wake of unidentified individuals trespassing into the secure airspace of Makhachkala airport, the decision was made to temporarily suspend all incoming and outgoing flights, as announced by Rossavitsia, the Russian aviation authority.
As per reports from Russian state media outlets Izvestia and RT, a group of several dozen men breached the airport premises and accessed the runway after receiving information about an inbound Israeli flight. A video clip revealed an individual who had climbed onto the wing of an aircraft belonging to the Russian Red Wings airline.
According to Flightradar data, a Red Wings flight originating from Tel Aviv touched down in Makhachkala at 7:00 PM local time (1600 GMT). During the chaotic incident, one demonstrator held a placard bearing the message, “Killers of children have no place in Dagestan,” while others chanted “Allah Akbar,” as reported by the AFP news agency.
These events have caused a considerable stir, as Russian authorities continue to investigate the full extent of the external influence behind the airport siege and the subsequent anti-Israel demonstrations.
