Thousands of Dagestanis gather at an airport to expel Israeli-Dagestani settlers, who were released by the resistance in #Gaza and are supposed to land in Makhachkala today. pic.twitter.com/Pgm2HRgL5N
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) October 29, 2023
Russia’s Investigative Committee confirmed the verdicts on Friday. The court found the defendants guilty of taking part in what it described as "mass riots" and other crimes. Authorities did not name the individuals. They also did not reveal whether the defendants pleaded guilty.
The incident happened during a wave of outrage across the Muslim-majority Dagestan region. Protesters were responding to Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza. Israel had launched a large-scale offensive against the strip that year, causing tens of thousands of civilian deaths.
On the day of the protest, crowds stormed the airport in Makhachkala as a Red Wings flight from Tel Aviv landed. Videos showed young men waving Palestinian flags, smashing glass doors, and chanting against the occupation state.
More than 20 people were injured, none of whom were the plane’s passengers. Russian security forces later regained control of the airport.
Following the protest, Russian authorities diverted all incoming flights from Tel Aviv away from Dagestan.
Investigators claimed they had evidence against 142 people. They completed formal cases against 139 of them. The remaining three are now on Russia’s wanted list. Authorities accuse them of inciting violence through Telegram channels.
President Vladimir Putin blamed Western countries and Ukraine for fueling the "unrest", but did not blame Israel. Kyiv denied any involvement.
The case has drawn attention to rising anger across Russia’s Muslim-majority regions over Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Rights groups have criticized the heavy prison sentences. They warn they could deepen resentment in communities that already feel marginalized.
The protest in Makhachkala became one of the most visible public expressions of outrage over Israel’s crimes in Gaza from within Russia. Now, it has resulted in one of the largest group convictions in recent Russian history.
