Details of the cases of riots at Makhachkala airport pointed to the indicative nature of the sentences

The toughening of charges against already convicted participants in the riots at the airport of the capital of Dagestan and the harsh nature of the sentences themselves underscored the authorities' intentions to prevent such mass protests in the future.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" wrote, in July the appellate court upheld the sentence of Magomedgadzhi Chirgilaev and Yasin Gadzhiev, whom the court, contrary to the testimony of witnesses and defendants, considered participants in the riots at the Makhachkala airport. Another convicted person, 18-year-old Shanavaz Elmurzaev, incriminated himself, the lawyer said.

According to information from Shamil Khadulaev, a member of the Public Chamber of Dagestan, a total of 136 people have been convicted in the case of the riots at the Makhachkala airport. "The maximum sentences are 15 years for now, and those who were given 6 or 4 years will probably be given Article 263 "Violation of transport safety requirements,"" Khadulaev told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The founder of the "Chernovik" publication, Magdi Kamalov, believes that the severity of the sentences is an intimidation tactic to avoid a repeat of mass protests. "Such long sentences are, so to speak, exemplary. For (preventing) any mass protests," he said.

Magomed Omaraskhabov's lawyer, Laila Ubaidullaeva, said that his second case has already been sent to court, but she will not represent his interests. "I will speak at his cassation in the first case. And now he and others who were charged with a second offense have appointed lawyers. They do not have the funds to pay for a lawyer," she said. Ubaidullaeva.

She also reported that Omaraskhabov had not complained about the conditions of his detention. “But he, like others, is unhappy with the fact that they were transported to Stavropol Krai. They asked lawyers to organize and leave them in the colony and from there via videoconferencing to participate in the process. They had already settled in the colony, in Dagestan, where they were serving their sentences, and they were transferred to the Pyatigorsk pretrial detention center," Ubaidullaeva told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

She noted that the court in the first case completely ignored mitigating circumstances, in particular, that Omaraskhabov's father is a first-group disabled person.

"He is 24 years old, he worked in a quarry. His father needs his help. No one paid attention to this, and what's more, they are now bringing new charges. For example, that he participated in damaging property, although there is no evidence. There were 15 video cameras there, they were filming every action of every person. Charge these charges to those whose identities have been established, who actually damaged property. Why charge this charge to everyone who was at the scene of mass riots? There is no evidence of this kind in the case,” Ubaidullaeva said.

Mass riots at Makhachkala airport occurred on October 29, 2023, due to a report of the arrival of a plane with passengers from Israel. More than 20 people were injured in the riots, including nine police officers. 1,200 people were brought to administrative responsibility. What happened at Uytash airport and how the investigation is proceeding is described in the "Caucasian Knot" report "Case of the pogrom at Makhachkala airport".