Disturbing events in Russia: "A warning for the Kremlin and the world"

Anna Maria Dyner, a specialist from the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM), believes the anti-Israeli incident at an airport in Russia’s Dagestan region is a potent warning for the Kremlin and the rest of the world.

Dyner told PAP, "It appeared as if a mob was against a group of individuals arriving from Israel. This is merely the beginning, hinting that Russia could face a significant problem in the Caucasus."

On Sunday, October 29, at the airport in mostly Muslim Dagestan, nearly a thousand people forced their way in with the aim of finding Israelis. Social media had been buzzing for days with information that "refugees from Israel" were expected in Dagestan.

Some media outlets described the resulting chaos as a "pogrom", leading to considerable damage. Yelling pro-Palestinian slogans, the mob searched the airport and a plane on the runway, inspecting the passports of those who landed.

As per the BBC, several Jews who had landed from Tel Aviv were evacuated from the airport by helicopter.

For quite some time, security personnel were unable to control the crowd, which was eventually dispersed by special forces. The ensuing riots left around 20 people injured. Authorities reported the detention of over 80 individuals and the initiation of a criminal case.

Dyner evaluates, "Naturally, Moscow authorities blamed this outbreak on external elements - the opposition, Western services, Ukraine. These accusations are baseless, but by pinning it on others, the authorities indirectly admitted their inability to manage the country's situation."

Dyner brought up a similar occurrence in June, the so-called Prigozhin's rebellion, where security forces struggled to maintain control for a long time. The "March on Moscow" orchestrated by Prigozhin questioned the state's monopoly on violence.

“The critical aspect is whether Russian authorities consider these incidents a warning sign. Regardless of its trigger, it landed on very fertile ground," believes Dyner, who suggests that the incidents in Makhachkala might be seen as a "proxy protest".

"The situation in the Middle East was a catalyst, not the reason for mass incidents. Dagestan, and other regions in the Russian North Caucasus, grapple with economic and social challenges. Simultaneously, the area's security forces are known for brutality, effectively stifling political or social protests, as was apparent last year, when brief protests against mobilization for the Ukraine war occurred only in Dagestan," the PISM expert explains.

"The second cause for concern is the potential religious radicalization in the area. A difficult socio-economic situation, coupled with consistent anti-Western propaganda, and war rhetoric, could lead to a dangerous outcome," warns Dyner.

In her opinion, the reactions of local security forces, subsequent reactions from Moscow, and a lack of firm stand against violence or religious and social hostility, all underscore the ineffectiveness of the authorities.

Dyner also emphasizes the radicalization of the public sentiment against Ukraine amid acts of aggression. She comments, "It is undeniably due to the war and propaganda endorsing violence and demonizing the adversary. The incidents in Dagestan show that this venomous and hateful narrative being fed to Russians can ignite at any moment, anywhere."

"The question remains whether this is a one-time incident or indicative of deeper issues. I believe it's the latter," Dyner concludes in her conversation with PAP.