State Duma deputies from Dagestan condemned the riots at Makhachkala airport

Deputies representing Dagestani voters in the State Duma condemned the organizers and participants of the riots that occurred on October 29 at the Makhachkala airport and called on them not to succumb to provocations.

“Dagestan has always been distinguished by a special, unique culture of hospitality, as well as respect and fraternal attitude towards all peoples, nationalities and religions,” deputy Abdulkhakim Gadzhiev (United Russia) told Kommersant. “Jews, Jews have lived in our republic for centuries, they , just like representatives of any other nationality, share grief and joy with us. Mountain Jews – Tats – are one of the 14 titular nations of the republic, whose status is enshrined in the constitution of Dagestan. We are all outraged by the inhumane policies of the Israeli authorities towards the Palestinians. However, we should not forget that we are talking specifically about the Israeli government, Israeli politicians, but in no case about all Jews and Jews. Not all of them support the horror that is happening in the Palestinian lands. It is obvious that Dagestan and the North Caucasus are among those territories where those responsible for the genocide of Palestinians will be the last to go.”

According to the deputy, the participants in the October 29 riots “obviously forgot that many Dagestanis, including those suffering from deadly diseases, traditionally went to Israel for treatment”: It is necessary for hotheads to think soberly and maintain respect for representatives of other nationalities and religions, show respect for law enforcement officers who protect the peace and well-being of all residents of the republic. We, Dagestanis, like no one else, know how to live in peace and harmony for many centuries, and should not lose everything that our wise ancestors taught us in a day.”

“Yesterday we witnessed the reckless and thoughtless actions of a certain part of the Dagestanis,” says deputy Saygidpasha Umakhanov, “who staged riots at the republican airport. All these people took to the streets, believing the information of foreign provocateurs who launched a wave of fake news on social networks in order to sow discord between our peoples.”

The riots at Makhachkala airport caused “significant image damage” to both Russia as a whole and Dagestan, Mr. Umakhanov believes. “We all, believing Dagestanis, perceive with pain in our hearts the horror happening in the Gaza Strip. Each of us prays for peace in this land and wants to stop the bloodshed,” says the deputy. “But yesterday’s actions of part of our society have not brought us a millimeter closer to peace in Palestine. Not a single problem in the world can be solved by hot, impulsive actions… For many years we have worked hard and persistently to build the image of a hospitable, kind and safe Dagestan so that people would trust us. And in one evening you decided to destroy all this, to return to the period when we were feared, considered terrorists and an uncontrollable wild mass?.. Think about how your actions help Muslims in Palestine, what disobedience to the authorities will cost you and your families, what attitude will there be peace for us?.. Ask the Almighty every day for peace in Palestine. In this difficult time for the whole world, we must remain calm in our land like the apple of our eye. I really hope that this will never happen again, because Dagestan has always been the territory of wisdom and reason.”