Press Release, October 26, 2013
YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin and YABLOKO activists paid tribute to the memory of hostages of a Moscow theatre who came to watch the Nord-Ost musical (in Dubrovka district, Moscow). The activists laid wreaths to the memorial plaque with the names of the victims set by the Theatre Center.
Eleven years ago, on October 23, 2002, forty terrorists of Aslan Amaskhadov captured the Moscow theatre during the “Nord-Ost” musical performance. They kept 916 peole inside the building within three days. The terrorist demanded to withdraw Russia’s troops from Chechnya. Several people, mostly children, were released due to negotiations. On October 26, the terrorists announced about the end of the negotiations, the assault of the building began. The security forces pumped poisonous gas in the ventilation system which lead to mass deaths. According to the official data, 130 hostages, among them were 10 children, were killed. The terrorists were killed, some of them were captured alive.

“Every year we come hear to pay tribute to the memory of the hostages of this tragedy. Many people died, they could have been alive now if our authorities cared for the people, if they didn’t put their political ambitions over the people’s lives”, said Sergei Mitrokhin.

YABLOKO leader reminded that the rescue operation was organised unprofessionally. This lead to mass victims. “We support the relatives of the hostages who demand to conduct the objective investigation of the reason of the tragedy and to bring the officials, who were responsible for the rescue operation, to responsibility”.

Mitrokhin said that he was near the theatre building on the tragedy day and was trying to help to release the hostages:”I reached agreement with the authorities to allow Grigory Yavlinsky to carry negotiations with the terrorists. Yavlinsky went inside the building, stood in the gunpoint and carried negotiations. As a result he managed to release 8 children”.

According to YABLOKO leader, mutual hatred force in terms of political interests leads to such tragedies. “The Nord-Ost tragedy reminds us of the vital problems which we have to solve in Russia”.