The Danger of Putin's Balancing Act on Hamas Evident in Anti-Jewish Riots in Russia's Dagestan Region
Russia's Dagestan region witnesses a disturbing anti-Jewish riot, revealing the potential pitfalls of Putin's delicate balancing act on Hamas This incident highlights the consequences of his geopolitical strategy and the risks it poses to stability
Russian President Vladimir Putin considers himself the leader of a "multinational, multiconfessional" Russia. The republic of Dagestan exemplifies Russia's diversity with more than 30 ethnic groups and distinct languages. However, the recent incident at Dagestan's Makhachkala Uytash Airport, where antisemitic rioters took over, has deeply affected Russia's Jewish community, sparked international outrage, and raised concerns about the consequences of Putin's involvement in the Ukrainian conflict and its perceived connection to the situation in Gaza.
The Kremlin leader conducted a comprehensive meeting on Monday to discuss the situation in Dagestan. Rioters, fueled by rumors of Jewish and Israeli passengers on a Red Wings Airlines flight from Tel Aviv that arrived on Sunday, forcefully entered the airport terminal and took over the runway. Demonstrators outside the airport displayed signs expressing opposition to Jewish refugees and condemning child-killers in Dagestan.
The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is being opposed by the individuals assembled, as stated by Russian state news agency TASS.
The authorities have reported that a minimum of 20 individuals sustained injuries and 60 people have been apprehended. Matthew Miller, the State Department Spokesperson, described the incident as resembling a pogrom.
The joint statement from the Israeli Prime Ministers office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, released on Sunday, expresses Israel's expectation for Russian law enforcement to ensure the safety of Israeli citizens and Jews worldwide. They call for strong action to be taken against the rioters and the incitement targeted at Jews and Israelis. In his remarks on Monday, Putin emphasized the need for law enforcement to take decisive and timely measures to protect constitutional order, the rights and freedoms of Russian citizens, and promote interethnic and inter-religious harmony.
However, Putin shifted the blame away from Russia by pointing out that the events in Makhachkala were orchestrated through social networks. He implied that Ukraine and Western intelligence agencies took advantage of the heightened emotions in Dagestan caused by Israel's continuous military campaign against Hamas in Gaza, resulting in increasing civilian casualties.
Putin's statement about assisting Palestine in combatting the culprits responsible for this tragedy needs further examination. Moreover, he mentioned that Russia, under the guise of the "Special Military Operation," is actively engaging in the conflict in Ukraine.
Since the October 7 Hamas attacks, Putin has been skillfully navigating the international stage, presenting himself as a prospective mediator and urging both sides to exercise restraint - a stance that has received commendation from Hamas.
During his recent statements on Monday, Putin delivered his most direct condemnation of Israel yet, asserting that the "horrifying events" in the Gaza Strip were without any justification and expressing the emotional impact of witnessing images of "bloodied, deceased children," evoking a visceral response of clenched fists and tear-filled eyes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a press conference on October 18, 2023, in Beijing, China
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A tense region of Russia
Such images evoked fury in Dagestan, a predominantly Muslim republic that has a rich history of diverse Islamic religious customs. Although Dagestan is home to a small Jewish community, practising Judaism alongside the Mountain Jews who speak a variant of Persian, their numbers have significantly declined over the centuries due to emigration and their close association with their Muslim counterparts.
Israel is displeased with Putin's recent calls to contain the Gaza crisis. The Russian ambassador to Israel was summoned to protest a visit by a Hamas delegation to Moscow last week, as stated in a press release from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.
However, Putin is targeting different audiences. Russia has intricate relationships in the Middle East, as Putin supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (an enemy of Israel), relies on Iran (another enemy of Israel) for drones to attack Ukraine, and maintains a friendly relationship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, another influential figure in the region.
In addition, he has managed to maintain friendly working connections with Israeli colleagues, although his rapport with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has deteriorated. However, these ongoing regional dynamics overshadow a broader perspective. Putin has positioned himself as engaged in a fundamental struggle against the United States and the Western world, with Ukraine serving as the primary arena. His language, aimed at "those responsible for this calamity," now seems to establish a direct connection between Ukraine and Gaza.
Putin, in his Monday remarks, blamed the US for fueling the ongoing conflict, alleging that "the United States deliberately promotes instability in the Middle East to undermine the credibility of nations advocating for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip."
In retaliation to Moscow, John Kirby, the Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council, remarked that there has been no response from the Kremlin regarding the airport disruption.
Kirby argued that there was a complete absence of condemnation or any effort to halt hatred, discrimination, and bigotry. He further criticized the classic Russian rhetoric of shifting blame onto external influences whenever something negative occurs within their country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also expressed his belief that the Dagestan riot demonstrates Russia's diminishing control.
Observers have also noted how hollow Putin's expressed concern over civilian casualties in Gaza sounds, considering his military's ruthless war against Ukraine. This campaign has deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure, resulting in leveled cities. In fact, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has even issued an arrest warrant for the Russian president due to his country's conduct during the war.
But Putin is relying on a tactic that has already yielded rewards: on the international stage, Moscow's diplomats have been engaging in a worldwide public relations campaign that presents Russia as a resolute anticolonial force, garnering backing from nations in the Global South - all while simultaneously pursuing a campaign of territorial expansion in Ukraine.
Russian National Guard vans parked at the airport in Makhachkala, Dagestan, on October 30.
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Anti-Israel rhetoric
At home, Russian state media has echoed the same narrative. Following the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, there has been an increase in criticism of Israel by certain Russian state TV commentators and politicians. This conveniently diverts international attention from Ukraine amid the ongoing Gaza war.
According to Oleh Nikolenko, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Moscow is being accused of attempting to shift blame. He emphasized that the threats towards the Jewish community are a direct outcome of long-standing Russian state propaganda, which has fostered animosity towards other ethnic groups among the Russian population. However, the recent riots in Dagestan have demonstrated that anti-Israel rhetoric can deviate unexpectedly from the intended narrative.
Earlier this month, Ramzan Kadyrov, the pro-Kremlin warlord who governs the neighboring Russian republic of Chechnya, expressed his unwavering support for Palestine and suggested the deployment of his "peacekeeping" forces to resolve the Israel-Hamas conflict. Despite Kadyrov's notorious human rights violations, he has played a significant role in maintaining a harsh and unstable peace in Russia's north Caucasus, including Dagestan, for nearly twenty years. Additionally, Kadyrov has supplied troops to Russia's military involvement in Ukraine.
The fragile situation in Dagestan is undoubtedly a matter of concern for the Kremlin, as it strives to maintain peace. Last year, protests broke out in the republic when the Russian government issued mobilization orders, with activists voicing their displeasure over the alleged unfair recruitment of ethnic minorities for service in Ukraine. Furthermore, the ongoing Gaza war only exacerbates the already tense circumstances.
In a perceptive analysis of the events on Sunday, Harold Chambers from the independent Russia-watching site Riddle Russia highlighted the dismal economic condition of Dagestan and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine as factors that fuel local grievances.
"The attempted pogrom is not only fueled by anti-Semitic propaganda, but by deep-seated systemic issues in the region," he expressed.
"The overall socioeconomic conditions in the republic are continuously worsening. Vital resources for daily living, such as electricity, water, and gas, are inconsistently provided, which resulted in sustained minor demonstrations just a few months ago. Furthermore, Dagestan has been heavily affected by Russia's conflict in Ukraine, leading to significant loss of life. Public pleas and minor attempts at change are often disregarded by the authorities."
Yevgenia Albats, a Russian investigative journalist, expressed her analysis with sharp precision.
"Are there individuals with anti-Semitic views in Makhachkala?" she wrote on X. "Undoubtedly. Were they present before? Undoubtedly. What has changed now? Twenty months of warfare, escalating costs, and the loss of countless lives. The mounting tension necessitates an outlet."
Russia's information campaign is a convenient tool, portraying a favorable image for the Middle East, Iran, and the Global South by indicating that Russia stands by them and Putin leads the anti-American movement. Putin has taken a risky geopolitical stance for months, exploiting anti-Western sentiment to gain support for his actions against Ukraine. However, an incident of anti-Jewish violence in the southern region of Dagestan demonstrates how swiftly this strategy can have negative repercussions, especially for those who are exposed to the constant repetition of Russian state propaganda.
