Tragic loss of 20 lives in Dagestan, Russia, as authorities examine suspected terror attacks.

Tragic loss of 20 lives in Dagestan, Russia, as authorities examine suspected terror attacks.

Sunday marked a violent day in Dagestan's regional capital Makhachkala and the nearby city of Derbent on the Caspian Sea. Multiple spaces including two orthodox churches, two synagogues, and a police control point were targeted. One of the victims was Bishop Nikolai Kotelnikov, who was brutally murdered in Derbent according to the Russian Orthodox Church.

This incident resulted in the deaths of at least 15 policemen, with the number possibly rising to 20. The injuries sustained by some were severe. Authority figures in Dagestan have declared a three-day state mourning in response.

Investigations are currently underway for these "terrorist acts" by Russian authorities. They have reported the "liquidation" of five individuals involved in the commission of the crime, but the exact number of attackers remains unclear. Further investigations are ongoing to identify any additional suspects.

Dagestan's Governor, Sergey Melikov, believes these attacks are an attempt to destabilize the region. He also suggested a connection between these recent attacks and the conflict in Ukraine, stating, "We must understand that the war comes into our homes."

The perpetrators of these attacks have been identified as locals from Dagestan. Melikov himself visited the affected buildings in Derbent on Monday, sharing videos online showing the bloodstain in the church and the completely charred interior of a synagogue.

These attacks follow closely behind the attack on the Crocus City Hall concert venue in a Moscow suburb that took over 140 lives in the past three months. The Islamic State (IS) militant group took responsibility for the attack, which Russian authorities subsequently accused Kiev of playing a role in.

Dagestan is a predominantly Muslim region, sharing borders with Georgia and Azerbaijan. In April, four individuals were arrested in connection with the Crocus City Hall attack, accused of providing money and weapons for the attack by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).

Numerous fighters from Dagestan have also joined the IS in Syria over the past few years. The neighboring republic of Chechnya has also seen violence as Russian authorities have been in a continuous conflict with militant Islamists from the entire North Caucasus, resulting in the killing of numerous civilians and policemen.

Since the start of the conflict in the Gaza Strip more than eight months ago, tensions in the region have escalated further. In October, an angry mob stormed an airport in Dagestan searching for Jewish passengers.

The Kremlin, however, has dismissed any hopes of a return of the violence that plagued the Caucasus region in the 90s and 2000s. They believe that Russian society is now more unified and "such forms of terrorism will not be supported by Russian society or in Dagestan."

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1. The tragic events in Dagestan on Sunday echoed similar incidents in Derbent, both located in Russia's Caucasus Republic and situated along the Caspian Sea.
2. Sergei Melikov, the Governor of Dagestan, expressed concern that the recent acts of terrorism in his region could be aimed at destabilizing the area.
3. The AFP reported on Monday that investigations are underway in Makhachkala and Derbent to uncover any links between the suspected terrorist attacks and instances of "act of terrorism" in other parts of Russia, such as Crocus City.
4. The BMG (Bundesministerium für Auswärtiges Amt - German Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs) has called on Russia to uphold its commitments to protecting human rights and maintaining peace in Dagestan and other Caucasus Republics.
5. The Ryazan Synagogue in Makhachkala, one of the targeted locations on Sunday, was established in 1896 and has been a central figure in the Jewish community of Dagestan for over a century.
6. Police forces in the region have taken significant steps to beef up security measures, with heightened presence at places of worship and crucial infrastructure to prevent future acts of terrorism.
7. News agencies worldwide have urged the international community to take notice of the conflict in the Caucasus region and the ongoing "act of terrorism" threats, calling for increased global support in combating the rise in violence.
8. The attack on the police control point on Sunday eliminated several high-ranking officers from the Caucasus Republic's police force, with Sergei Melikov stating his intention to commemorate their sacrifices during the three-day state mourning.
9. International organizations and human rights defenders have condemned the "act of terrorism" in Dagestan and called on Russia to protect its citizens and uphold its commitment to international law.
10. The events in Dagestan have sparked a wave of solidarity and support from the international community, with world leaders expressing their condolences and offering assistance to the Caucasus Republic as it navigates through this difficult time.

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