Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday accused Ukrainian and Western spy agencies of helping engineer a riot in the southern region of Dagestan, where a mob stormed the airport after a flight from Israel landed there.
More than 20 people were hurt — none Israelis — in clashes that Putin cast as part of U.S. efforts to weaken Russia.
Hundreds of angry men, some carrying banners with antisemitic slogans, rushed onto the tarmac of the airport in Makhachkala, the capital of the predominantly Muslim region, on Sunday night, looking for Israeli passengers on the flight from Tel Aviv.
Police officers and civilians were injured and two of them were in critical condition, regional health authorities said. More than 80 people were detained in the unrest, according to police. Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened a criminal probe on charges of organizing mass unrest.