On behalf of the YABLOKO party, I am expressing our deepest
condolences to all the relatives of the victims of today’s
acts of terror, and our support and compassion for all of
the victims. I am demanding an objective and urgent investigation
of these crimes.
I also find it necessary to investigate not only the organisers
of these acts of terror, but also the heads of the security
bodies who did not draw any lessons from the previous crimes
of this kind that took place in Moscow and other cities
across the world.
It would appear that the authorities have lulled themselves
into a false sense of security with their own propaganda;
the claims that they have successfully ended the war in
the Caucasus, that they have allegedly achieved stability
in Russia.
Is not it clear that after every operation against militants
in the Caucasus we should not confine ourselves to bravura
reports and press releases, but we must prepare for the
terrorists’ acts of revenge in every Russian settlement,
especially in crowded towns and cities.
There is also a feeling that the prime concern of the Federal
Security Bureau and the police is not the terrorists, but
citizens protesting against the growth of tariffs on housing
and utilities services.
Yesterday I wrote in my blog about the “problems” our police
bosses are concerned with: administrative arrest for 15
days for participation in mass actions; and the possibility
to detain people for 48 hours without drawing on any protocols.
The meeting of the Moscow City Duma on security issues,
scheduled for today, has to discuss this issue, one which
is very important to the head of the Moscow police Kolokoltzev.
The incapability of police is one of the reasons behind
the acts of terror. If the police concentrate their time
and energy solely on debating punishments for the protestors,
there is no one left to protect us from terrorism.
A police state is a poor defense against terrorism.
See also:
Act
of terror in the Moscow metro, March 29, 2010
