The head of Dagestan, Sergei Melikov, has reiterated his stance that every participant in the disturbances at Uytash Makhachkala airport will face consequences for their actions. He described the forthcoming punishments as a message intended to calm the hotheads and prevent similar outbreaks in the future. Speaking at the Russia exhibition forum at VDNKh, Melikov emphasized that his position remains unchanged: accountability is owed to all who broke the law, and the rule of law must apply uniformly across the federation, including Dagestan’s airport. He stressed that the legal framework of the Russian Federation should govern events in Makhachkala just as it does elsewhere, and he expressed hope that court decisions will be objective and fair. The statements came after ongoing judicial proceedings were noted as part of the process to resolve the case.
Melikov underlined that criminal cases connected to the incident are currently being adjudicated in courts, highlighting the ongoing nature of legal reviews and the expectation that justice will follow established procedures. He did not shy away from acknowledging the seriousness of the disruption, reinforcing the message that the authorities intend to rely on due process to determine appropriate sanctions for those involved.
Background on the events shows that, at the end of November, authorities reported a significant number of detentions related to the seizure of the Dagestan airport. Earlier, during the late October incident, mass unrest erupted when a regular flight from Tel Aviv arrived in Dagestan amid regional tensions in the Middle East. The crowd surged into the airport complex, leading to widespread disruption and hundreds of detentions in the aftermath as security services worked to restore order and secure the facility.
In the years surrounding the city of Makhachkala, authorities have kept the focus on maintaining public order and reinforcing the rule of law in transportation hubs. The sequence of events and the subsequent investigations illustrate the state’s determination to pursue accountability through formal channels, while ensuring that the legal process remains transparent and consistent with national standards. As the case proceeds, observers note the broader implications for crowd control, airport security, and the balance between swift public safety responses and the protections afforded by judicial processes. The situation continues to unfold as investigators and courts work to finalize the outcomes for those implicated in the disturbances.