Prolonged Disinformation Campaign Led to Violent Dagestan Airport Riot Targeting Israelis

False rumors of Israeli resettlement spark violent mobs in Makhachkala; antisemitic Telegram posts widely distributed in weeks leading up to the Dagestan airport riot.

A prolonged campaign of disinformation on Telegram accusing Israelis of resettling in Dagestan sparked extensive anger and violence, eventually leading to a riot at the Makhachkala airport on Oct. 29.
The rumors began circulating when flights between Makhachkala and Tel Aviv resumed after being paused following Hamas attacks in Israel. Misinformation claiming arriving Israelis were refugees was spread widely on Telegram, with some posts viewed up to 250,000 times.
The disinformation campaign also saw the spread of hostile content against Jews, with calls to locals not to sell goods to them or rent apartments. The false rumours fueled online and ground-level antisemitism, pressuring local businesses to boycott Jewish customers.
On Oct. 29, hundreds of protesters, many carrying pro-Palestinian flags, stormed Makhachkala airport searching for Israelis and wreaking havoc. The mob, believed to have been incited by the false rumors on Telegram, battered airport doors and questioned staff about Israelis. At least 20 people were injured during the riot.
Following the riot, Telegram suspended several channels that were complicit in the spread of the false information and incitement of violence. Also, despite Russia's President Putin blaming Western agents for the unrest, U.S. officials have refuted any involvement.