In the southern Russian Stavropol region, two courts have sentenced 10 men to over eight years in prison for their involvement in an anti-Israeli riot at Makhachkala International Airport in Dagestan. The riot occurred on October 29, 2023, when a mob of 1,200 people stormed the airport, aiming to confront Jews and Israelis who were rumored to have arrived on a flight from Tel Aviv. The unrest, which resulted in significant injuries and property damage, was fueled by anger in the North Caucasus over Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
The Alexandrovsky regional court sentenced seven men to prison terms ranging from eight to nine years for mass rioting and traffic safety violations, with one also convicted for assaulting a law enforcement officer. The Shpakovsky regional court sentenced three additional men to prison sentences between eight and eight and a half years for similar charges.
This brings the total number of individuals imprisoned in connection with the riot to 15, following the sentencing of five men in August in Krasnodar. Another 65 individuals are currently facing trial in Stavropol. The trials were moved from Dagestan due to the sensitivity surrounding the case.
