MAKHACHKALA, October 30. /TASS/. Head of Dagestan Sergey Melikov has slammed Sunday’s riots at the regional capital’s airport as the height of cynicism and treachery.

"I would like to talk about cynicism and treachery because what happened yesterday was like a stab in the back to our troops, who are protecting the country in the special military operation zone. It turns out that while they are fighting against our enemy, those who took part in the so-called protest were playing for the enemy’s side. This can only be described as treachery," Melikov emphasized.

Mass riots took place at the airport of regional capital Makhachkala on October 29. The unrest was caused by the arrival of a regular flight from Tel Aviv amid tensions in the Middle East. Several hundred people entered the airport building and went to the tarmac; they were eventually dispelled by law enforcement officers. According to the latest data, over 20 people, including police officers, suffered injuries, and 60 rioters were detained. Dagestani authorities and religious leaders condemned the incident, linking it to an attempted provocation.