The sentence against two Dagestani residents in the "airport case" has been upheld.

The Supreme Court of Russia rejected the cassation appeal of Asker Budaykhanov and Gadzhi Imanmurzaev, who were sentenced to lengthy prison terms for organizing riots at Makhachkala Airport. The defense pointed out that witness testimony and evidence contradicted the findings of the court and the investigation.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot," on July 18, 2025, the Stavropol Regional Court announced the verdict against four residents of Dagestan in the case of the pogrom at Makhachkala Airport. The court found Devletkhan Ramazanov, Gadzhi Imanmurzaev, Asker Budaykhanov, and Patimat Sharudinova guilty of organizing mass riots and violating transport security and sentenced them to prison terms ranging from 11 to 11.5 years.

Asker Budaykhanov and Gadzhi Imanmurzaev, convicted of organizing mass riots and violating transport security regulations at Makhachkala Airport, were unable to appeal their verdict in the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation. Imanmurzaev's lawyers argued that the evidence presented in the verdict did not support the court's findings. For example, two victims testified in court that Imanmurzaev calmed the crowd, urged them not to commit illegal acts, and asked them to leave the airport. The trial court also unreasonably denied a motion to include the full audio recording (approximately three minutes) in the case and have it examined in court, which indicates the innocence of A.B. Budaykhanov. In organizing mass riots, follows from the ruling of the Supreme Court of Russia.

"The judicial investigation cannot be considered objective, since more than 130 identified individuals who participated in the mass riots were not questioned regarding the organizing role of A.B. Budaykhanov and G.I. Imanmurzaev," the defense emphasized, arguing that the punishment was unfair.

They also pointed out that Imanmurzaev has a minor child dependent on him, and the convicted man is the grandfather of nine grandchildren who live with him. Budaykhanov has four minor children. Both convicted men partially admitted their guilt and expressed remorse. The court found the defense's arguments untenable and upheld the sentence.

More than 130 people were convicted of participating in mass riots at the Makhachkala airport and received prison terms ranging from 6.5 to 15 years. Dagestani resident Bakhtiyar Radzhabov, sentenced to seven years in prison by the Georgievsk City Court in October, became at least the 136th person convicted of participating in the pogrom, according to the Caucasian Knot report "A Wave of Anti-Semitic Actions in the North Caucasus."

As a reminder, Ilya Ponomarev*, Israil Akhmednabiyev (Abu Umar Sasitlinsky), and Abakar Abakarov, who have been on the international wanted list and whose death confirmation has been sent to Turkish authorities, have been sentenced in absentia to terms ranging from 15 to 19 years. The investigation and court considered them the organizers of the riots at Makhachkala airport.

* are listed as foreign agents.

** Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) is banned in Russia.