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Strasbourg reaches a decision on ‘Nord-Ost’. On December 20th, the European Court of Human Rights almost fully satisfied claims by victims and relatives of the deceased victims of the terrorist attack on the theatrical center at Dubrovka. The applicants themselves consider today’s decision by Strasbourg to be a real victory, and had been waiting for several years. Now they hope that an objective investigation into the incident will take place. The victims and relatives of the deceased hostages filed their claims with the European Court back in 2003. In their petitions, they demanded that those who planned the hostage rescue...

Those responsible for the large-scale terrorist attack are named in a new criminal case The Moscow prosecutor’s office has canceled the order that terminated the criminal case concerning the terrorist attack on Dubrovka, which took place in October 2002. Igor Trunov, the attorney representing the victims’ interest, revealed this to ‘Svobodnaya Pressa’ (‘SP’). According to Trunov, the Moscow prosecutor’s office was instructed by the chief of the Russian Investigative Committee to carry out a supplementary investigation into the incident. Igor Trunov explains why prosecutors are once again investigating‘Nord-Ost’ ‘SP’: Igor Leonidovich (Trunov), the prosecutor’s decision to continue the investigation, what...

To the European Court of Human Rights From Oleg Alexandrovich Zhirov, Address ----------- The Netherlands Telephone: -------- A description of the events at the Dubrovka theatrical center, in the city of Moscow, October 23-26, 2002. On October 23, 2002, my wife, Natalya Zhirova, and our 14- year-old son, Dmitriy, were in attendance at the Russian musical 'Nord-Ost', being held at the Dubrovka theatrical center. I learned of the theater's seizure by terrorists from the television. I immediately dressed myself, and within 15 minutes I was at Dubrovka. I received the first call from my wife on my mobile phone as...

Irina Vasina is checking the 'durability' of the victims of the terrorist attack at Dubrovka, and will postpone judicial sessions   On April 25th, 2005, in Hall 203 of the Zamoskvoreche district court, Moscow (Judge Irina Vasina presiding), hearings continued on the complaint of 'Nord-Ost' survivor Svetlana Gubareva, whose 13 -year-old daughter and US husband Sandy Booker perished at Dubrovka. Prehistory The essence of Svetlana's complaint is that she is charging the Moscow city attorney's investigative group with inaction on the 'Nord-Ost' case. Up until now, the precise time and place of her loved ones' deaths has not been established....

A sensation in the 'Nord-Ost' case: the victims of the tragedy could for the first time read the attorney general's resolution refusing to bring a criminal complaint Judge Susina's achievement. The intriguing part of the sensation, and not there would be no sensation at all, if the machines of government had simply carried out the law. The 'Nord-Ost' victims had no access to the case materials for more than two years. The ice began to crack only on November 11th, 2004, and only as if by accident. Judge Natalya Susina of the capital's Zamoskvoreche law court, during the course of...

There was an unexpected, big break in declassifications last week. Apparently, after the events at Beslan, the Zamoskvorech'ye court decided to open access to some important documents concerning the investigation of tragedy at Dubrovka ('Nordost'). This is a positive step. From that which was declassified, it is clear that no one was guilty in the deaths of the hostages. This, in principle, is not news, since that has been the official position since immediately after tragedy. In turn, human rights activists learned from the declassified procurator's decisions that ambulances arrived at the theatrical center only two hours after the gas...

I would like to summon up my courage and declare that, of all the participants in this discussion, only I am personally acquainted with Anna Politkovskaya and, perhaps, the reality of Russia. And so, I feel that I have the right to say the following: 1. It is an abominable idea, that Anna was not poisoned, but was only trying to enhance her image. She has already made her name and displayed her authority, not only in the former Soviet Union, but in other countries as well. None of you show her any sympathy, though no one has the right...

The Terror of 9/99: Fact Sheet The Bombings September 1999 was the month of terror in Russia. Several bombs went off within days of each other, killing nearly 300 and injuring more than 550. On August 31st, 1999, a bomb exploded during rush hour at the Manezh shopping mall in the center of Moscow. Forty people were injured, one person died. On September 4th, a truck exploded in the military housing complex in the city of Buinaksk. Sixty-four people died under the ruins of a five-story building, 23 of them children. 133 were injured. On the night of September 9th,...

IN BRIEF • Leader - Amir Khamzat (the soi dissant Abdu Sabur) is believed to have assumed control of the group following the death of Movsar Barayev. • Base - Reports have suggested both the Urus-Martan district of Chechnya, and northeastern Georgia's Pankisi Gorge. • Size - Perhaps as many as 400 active fighters, and, according to a 2001 interview with Basaryev, just as many in reserve. Russian authorities claim the number is greatly exaggerated. • Cause - The removal of Russian forces from Chechnya, an end to the war, and independence from Moscow. Also, to establish Wahhabism under an...