MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
September 3 is the Day of Solidarity in the Fight against Terrorism in Russia. A tragic memorial date associated with the events that took place from September 1 to 3, 2004, in the Ossetian city of Beslan, when during a ceremonial assembly for Knowledge Day at School No. 1, a group of terrorists took 1,128 people hostage, most of whom were children.
On August 20, 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beslan on a working visit. First of all, the head of state visited the memorial complex “City of Angels”, where 266 of the 334 people who died 20 years ago are buried. The complex includes the “Tree of Sorrow” monument in memory of the hostages who fell victim to the terrorist attack, as well as a monument to the fighters of the Alpha and Vympel special forces who died during the assault. Vladimir Vladimirovich laid flowers at the monument and knelt as a sign of grief and respect for the victims of the terrorist attack and their fallen defenders. Later, the president went to School No. 1, which is now also a memorial complex.
Let us recall that the hostage taking was carried out with exceptional inhumanity. The captives were gathered in a gym, were not given food or drink, and no assistance was provided to the victims. Some of the hostages were shot immediately to intimidate the rest and show the law enforcement agencies the seriousness of their intentions. At the same time, the attackers refused the ransom offer and did not put forward any clear demands, and the number of their victims was constantly growing.
Among the hostages was 11-year-old Anastasia Tuaeva, who later entered the State University of Management to study tourism management. This is what she recalls about those terrible days: “It was unbearably hot, stuffy, we were sitting huddled together in a cramped space, the terrorists would periodically start shooting and force us to raise our hands behind our heads. It would seem that it’s not that big of a deal – just raising your hands, but in those conditions, when you hadn’t had a drink of water for 24 hours, it was very difficult.”
On September 3, two explosions thundered in the school, people began to jump out of windows and run away in panic, and the terrorists opened fire on them. The special forces had to storm the building immediately. As a result, all the criminals, except one, were destroyed on the spot. 10 fighters from the Alpha and Vympel units died, most of them shielding children. Almost all the surviving hostages were injured, 72 children and 69 adults became disabled.
Field commander Shamil Basayev publicly claimed responsibility for organizing the terrorist act. He and the other organizers of the crime were subsequently eliminated, and the only surviving captor is now serving a life sentence in the Polar Owl penal colony.
The terrorist attack in Beslan became one of the reasons for important social and political changes in Russia. Security measures were strengthened throughout the country in places of mass gatherings of people – stadiums, train stations, metro; special attention was paid to schools, universities and other educational institutions. Such important organizations as the National Anti-Terrorism Committee, the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, the Commission on the Improvement of the Socio-Economic Situation in the Southern Federal District were created. As a result of their activities, the number of terrorist attacks by 2010 decreased by 10 times.
The Day of Solidarity in the Fight against Terrorism is intended to remind us of the countless victims of the numerous terrorist attacks that Russia has experienced, to strengthen our principled positions and to declare to all hidden and overt opponents our readiness to steadfastly defend our sovereignty and the right to a peaceful life, and to warn that punishment will inevitably follow crime.
Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 09/03/2024
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
https://guu.ru/20-years-of-the-tragedy-in-Beslan/
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.
