1 RUSSIA
US dismisses Moscow’s claims over antisemitic riot
The United States dismissed Russia’s attempt to blame Ukraine and the west for an antisemitic riot at an airport in Muslim-majority Dagestan. President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine and “agents of western special services” after a mob descended on Makhachkala airport in Russia’s North Caucasus last Sunday in search of Jewish passengers on a plane that arrived from Israel.
Maria Zakharova, the Russian foreign ministry spokesperson, said the riot was the result of a “provocation” orchestrated from outside Russia, with Ukraine playing a “direct and key role”. No evidence was provided to support the claims
Asked about the accusations at a White House briefing, US national security council spokesman John Kirby said: “Classic Russian rhetoric, when something goes bad in your country, you blame somebody else.” Kirby criticised Putin for not doing more to condemn the violence, which he described as “a chilling demonstration of hate”.
Ukraine – which Russia invaded last year – also rejected the allegations and pointed to Russia’s “deep-rooted antisemitism”.
Spotlight Page 15 →
2 UNITED STATES
Ex-army officer given life in prison for Moïse’s killing
A retired Colombian army officer was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the 2021 assassination of Haitian president Jovenel Moïse.
Germán Alejandro Rivera García, 45, is the second of 11 suspects detained and charged in Miami to be sentenced in
