Russian Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar Visits Makhachkala Airport Following 2023 Anti-Israel Riot

MAKHACHKALA, Russia (VINnews)— Russia’s Chief Rabbi, Berel Lazar, was received with honor by officials at Makhachkala Airport this week, a year and a half after Muslim rioters stormed the facility in an attempt to harm passengers arriving on a flight from Israel.

During the visit, Rabbi Lazar was briefed on the extensive security upgrades implemented in the wake of the October 2023 attack, which drew condemnation both domestically and internationally. The riot, which was widely described as an attempted pogrom, shocked the nation and prompted a swift and forceful response from Russian authorities.

All individuals identified as participants in the riot were prosecuted and received heavy penalties, according to government sources.

At the rabbi’s request, President Vladimir Putin will award a medal of valor to a government official who played a key role in thwarting the attack. The official, whose name has not yet been released, is credited with personally intervening to stop the rioters’ plot.

Rabbi Lazar praised the airport administration for its commitment to public safety and commended the government’s decisive response to the violence.

“This visit symbolizes the resilience of the Jewish community and the importance of national unity in the face of hatred,” Lazar said.