The Daghestani news agency, RIA Derbent, has filed complaints with several Russian law enforcement agencies regarding the proliferation of false posts circulating under its name. Editor-in-chief Milrad Fatullayev addressed the Investigative Committee of Russia, the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Federal Security Service (FSB), and Russia’s Communications Service, expressing serious concerns about these fabricated claims. The posts falsely asserted that over 500 Orthodox Jewish families from Tel Aviv were preparing to relocate to the republic, with plans to reside in modular buildings financed by Daghestani Senator Suleiman Kerimov, primarily in Derbent.
These fabricated claims have repeatedly surfaced, creating significant disruption. Fatullayev highlighted a previous incident in autumn 2025, where similar false information regarding searches at the Mufti of Daghestan’s home and his son’s alleged departure was disseminated under RIA Derbent’s name, without investigation. He views these publications as deliberate information provocations intended to destabilize the region and potentially damage interethnic and interfaith relations.
He requested a procedural check to identify those responsible and emphasized that these rumors have previously triggered unrest, such as the mass unrest at Makhachkala Airport in October 2023 following reports of a flight carrying Israeli refugees. This, combined with rallies and searches for individuals resembling Israelis, fueled tensions. Officials attributed the unrest to pro-Ukrainian Telegram channels and a former Russian MP.
Fatullayev is requesting a legal assessment of the authors’ actions and public disclosure of the investigation’s findings. The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has seen a surge of antisemitic incidents in the North Caucasus, raising concerns about potential unrest and the spread of disinformation targeting the daghestani outlet and israelis.
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Daghestani media is disputing claims of Israeli relocation.