Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West and Ukraine of orchestrating an anti-Israel riot in an airport in the Russian republic of Dagestan, claiming they stood to benefit from a divided Russia. The U.S. and Ukraine rejected the allegations, calling them "absurd." The incident has highlighted rising ethnic tensions in Russia, particularly between the Jewish and Muslim communities. Russia is under pressure to confront these tensions and navigate its alliances in the Middle East.
Telegram has blocked the popular Russian channel "Morning of Dagestan" after it was blamed for inspiring a violent mob that breached the main airport in Dagestan, Russia, in search of passengers from Israel. The riot, which resulted in the arrest of at least 60 people, was allegedly incited by the channel's posts encouraging Muslims to aggressively question passengers about their stance on Israel. Telegram, known for its unmoderated platform, has been criticized for allowing extremist groups and conspiracy theorists to thrive. The move to block the channel comes amid growing international unrest related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
