In a shift of rhetoric, Putin draws a parallel between the hostage incident in Beslan and Ukraine's progress in Kursk.
Absolutely, just as we've triumphed in our battle against terrorism, we'll conquer the neo-Nazi issue as well," Putin asserted, gazing at three ladies from the Beslan Mothers Union. "And let me assure you, the culprits will face retribution, there's no doubt about that."
Putin left roses at the memorials for the slain victims and soldiers who lost their lives while serving their duty at the school, as reported by the Kremlin. He then visited the school building that was attacked on September 1, 2004, marking his first trip to the site of the kidnapping.
Chechen insurgents had seized more than a thousand individuals as hostages in Beslan, counting numerous children. On September 3, 2004, when Russian security forces invaded the school, over 330 lives were lost, including 186 children. The hostage situation in the North Ossetia region of the Caucasus occurred amid an uprising of Islamic Chechens fighting for an independent Chechnya, which Putin branded as "terrorists."
Putin and his administration faced criticism for their handling of the hostage situation at the time. On Tuesday, the Beslan Mothers Organization expressed concern that the true sequence of events during the hostage situation had never been fully investigated, as their co-chairwoman Aneta Gadijewa shared with the news portal "Agenztwo." Unlike Putin's comments on Ukraine, this segment of the conversation wasn't broadcast on Russian television.
Gadijewa stated that Putin claimed ignorance of the incomplete investigation into the hostage situation. He allegedly promised to urged the head of the Russian Investigative Committee, responsible for probing serious crimes, to intervene.
In 2017, the European Court of Human Rights found that Russian authorities had committed "significant oversights" in dealing with the hostage situation. They had not taken sufficient measures to prevent the incident and then used disproportionate force. Moscow was instructed to clarify the actual sequence of events.
In March 2024, Russia was rocked by a similarly devastating act of violence. In an attack on the Crocus City Hall concert hall in a Moscow suburb, 145 lives were lost. The Islamic State (IS) militant group admitted responsibility for the attack.
The European Parliament's President expressed concern over Russia's handling of the Beslan hostage situation, calling for a thorough investigation to ensure justice for the victims. During a meeting in Brussels, they urged Putin to acknowledge the oversights made by Russian authorities and take necessary steps to clarify the sequence of events.
In response to the criticism, Putin met with the President of the European Parliament to discuss the matter, assuring them that Russia would address the concerns and take appropriate action to ensure accountability.
