Russia Court Sentences Five in Anti-Israel Protest Case

A court in southern Russia sentenced five men to over six years in prison each for their involvement in an anti-Israel protest in the Dagestan region. The trial was moved to Krasnodar due to its sensitivity. The protest was linked to unrest over Israel's conflict with Hamas.

In a landmark decision, a southern Russian court has sentenced five men to more than six years in prison each for their involvement in a mass anti-Israel protest. The convictions mark the first related to last October's unrest at an airport in Dagestan, a predominantly Muslim region. The men, who received sentences between six and nine years, maintained their innocence throughout the trial, according to the Krasnodar court.

The sensitive trial was relocated from Dagestan to Krasnodar. The protest in question saw hundreds of demonstrators storm an airport in Makhachkala after a flight from Tel Aviv landed. The incident was fueled by a local Telegram channel which encouraged residents to confront the passengers. The video footage showed protesters with Palestinian flags, breaching security, and yelling "Allahu Akbar".

Despite the chaos, no passengers were harmed. Security forces ultimately contained the situation, which left over 20 people injured. Numerous arrests followed, and several cases are pending in Russian courts. President Vladimir Putin attributed the unrest to external influences from the West and Ukraine, although no evidence was provided. Both Kyiv and the United States have condemned the violence.

(With inputs from agencies.)