In a shocking incident on Sunday night, an anti-Israeli riot erupted in the Russian republic of Dagestan, highlighting the Kremlin's inability to maintain stability in the country. The incident unfolded when hundreds of men stormed the region's main airport in search of rumored Israeli refugees on a flight from Tel Aviv. As a result, 20 people were injured and at least 60 individuals were detained.

According to three Russian officials, a former Kremlin official, and independent experts who spoke to The Moscow Times, the riot in Dagestan represents another grave failure in political and security matters, following the Wagner mercenary mutiny on June 24.

The Kremlin official, who requested anonymity, described the situation as a national emergency and a failure on the part of domestic policy supervisors, the special services, and local authorities. Several other Russian officials expressed their confusion and likened the incident to the Prigozhin rebellion.

The Russian government remained silent until Monday, when it finally responded by attributing the riot to external forces attempting to divide the country. President Vladimir Putin, who has yet to comment on the riot, is scheduled to convene a meeting with top officials to discuss the events in Dagestan.

The North Caucasus region holds significant importance for Putin, with his wars on Chechen separatists and his promise to combat terrorism in the region defining his early presidency. The Kremlin has allocated considerable subsidies to the area, aiming to improve residents' well-being and maintain strict control to prevent political and religious unrest.

However, researchers argue that the loyalty of the North Caucasus republics to the Kremlin is primarily a result of pressure and manipulation rather than genuine support. Dagestan, in particular, was chosen for Putin's PR trip following the Wagner mercenaries' mutiny earlier this year, highlighting the Kremlin's attempt to project stability.

The failure of authorities to prevent and intervene in the Dagestan riot raises questions about the efficacy of Russia's security services and their communication with Putin. The Kremlin official, who previously worked in security services, suggested that fear of alarming the president led to a lack of proactive measures.

Reports of pro-Palestine demonstrations in the North Caucasus had been circulating for weeks due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. However, no action was taken by the Kremlin or security agencies to address the signs of growing unrest.

The initial response from Dagestani authorities came late Sunday evening, after the riot had been quelled, with regional leader Sergei Melikov describing the event as a betrayal of Dagestani soldiers fighting in Ukraine. Some residents expressed their shock and frustration at the authorities' failure to prevent the riot.

The article also highlights the role of Putin's stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the Russian Jewish diaspora perceiving a pro-Palestinian bias, which may have further fueled the anti-Semitic sentiments during the riot.

Overall, the incident in Dagestan exposes the Kremlin's failure to maintain stability, signaling a deeper crisis within the country's political and security apparatus. Hate speech and acts of violence have become normalized in Russia, as observed in pro-Kremlin talk shows, contributing to an alarming rise in tensions.