Russia's president instructed the country's prosecutor general Tuesday to check the operation of Moscow airports and related companies "to make sure they fully comply with legislation on air transportation and servicing of passengers" who have been stranded since icy rain and snowstorms caused dozens of canceled or delayed flights over the weekend, the Kremlin press office said.

President Dmitry Medvedev stepped in when air traffic disruptions and chaos at Moscow's two largest airports, Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo, became the leading news story in Russia.

Several television networks are filing regular updates from the overcrowded airports, where people whose New Year holiday and vacation plans were destroyed by bad weather are complaining about poor conditions, chaos, lack of information and huge lines. Many have slept on the floor and some claim they didn't receive medical aid that they'd requested. Russian news agencies reported there have been scuffles between frustrated passengers and airport officials.