ONCE AGAIN ON 'NORD-OST' AND THE MANDATES OF THE EUROPEAN COURT'S DECISIONS

Due to health reasons, this year it was not possible for all of us to gather at that tragically famous spot on Dubrovka, the place where we lost brothers and sisters, children and parents, during the course of an operation more aimed at destroying terrorists than rescuing hostages. Certainly, history will answer the questions in full, but right now former hostages and relatives of deceased victims have already been fighting for the truth for 11 years. They are fighting for the truth about the case and the truth about the deaths of their loved ones.

Last year on this day dozens of hostages and their families gathered for a sad anniversary of the event — 10 years since the tragedy of 'Nord-Ost'. On that day, October 26th, 2012, our principal applicants in this case — old and new — signed an appeal to those obligated to assure the appropriate work of investigative bodies in our country so that they finally organize a thorough and independent investigation, pursuant to the decision of the European Court in the 'Nord-Ost' case ("Finogenov & Others v. Russia "), and to determine all those circumstances that the authorities so carefully conceal from its own citizens.

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Today is a sad anniversary. Eleven years ago, on October 23rd, 2002, Chechen militants stormed and took hostage the theater on Dubrovka in Moscow.

The up-to-date, newly remodeled, and beautifully furnished building was hosting the musical 'Nord-Ost'. Gathered here was not a poor crowd — the hall was full of nice suits and dresses, the scent of costly perfume, and the warble of pricey mobile phones.

In short, located here at ground zero were not the marginal members of society, but mainly representatives of the middle class that could spend a few hundred — a lot more money back then than nowadays — to go see this cultural project. Perhaps arguably cultural, since not one of the songs from the musical was even at least a «seasonal» hit, even after the tragedy.

The audience was probably about as happy as those not so poor people that bought tickets for the Titanic back in the day.

'Nord-Ost', meaning «a nor'easter» or northeast wind, turn out to be icy, and chilled all the way to the bone. The glamorous spectacle became a true hell on earth. Pale actors, in the remnants of their makeup, climbed down from windows and told reporters what was going on. What they said, of course, was confused, and confusing, which intensified the nightmarish atmosphere.

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Memory is increasingly a rarity these days. It disappears somewhere beneath the murky layers of unconscious time, somewhere consistently and deliberately edited from the minds of the well-fed for the sake of peace of mind in their gray matter. Do not remember, do not think, and do not know — that is the truth that the majority places on a pedestal. Memory for them is dangerous; they do not need it because it can raise doubts about their own piety.

Anna Politkovskaya, the journalist from ‘Novaya Gazeta’ who was murdered in 2006, was remembered on the 7th of October in many cities around the world. Her name is born  by streets and parks in Rome, Tbilisi, Milan, and Paris. This year a collective act of memory took place in the city of Samara. It took place, and, perhaps, became something greater.

On October 7, the Samara House of Journalists and Writers held a round table discussion in memory of Anna Politkovskaya. Representatives attended from the publications such as ‘Gagarin Park’, ‘Zasekin.ru’, ‘Novaya Gazeta in the Volga region’, ‘Svoboda Information Agency’, as well as Svetlana Zhdanov, head of the local Roskomnadzor (Russian FTC). Also attending were activists from non-governmental organizations, and bloggers.. Participants shared their thoughts and memories of Anna Politkovskaya, and discussed issues concerning the freedom of speech in Russia, Togliatti, and Samara.

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On September 3rd, during the ninth anniversary of the tragic events in Beslan, an exhibition opened in the Arts Center on Michurin Street. This “upside down” exhibition was devised by a Samara artist named Frol Jolly, who became both curator of the project and one of its authors.

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Nine years ago terrorists seized a school in the North Ossetian town of Beslan. The hostages were held for three days. Nine years later, Susanna Dudiyeva, leader of the 'Mothers of Beslan' public organization, spoke with 'Vlasti' correspondent Zaur Farniyev on how the former hostages and their relatives have been living these years, and why they continue to believe that the truth is being hidden from them.

'Vlasti': The investigation into the Beslan terrorist attack continues. What has changed? Do you have any hope that it will end soon?

Susanna Dudiyeva: They have even stopped notifying us, the victims, of extensions to the investigation. Personally, for the last year I have not received a single letter about the investigation being extended, which was the case during the previous eight years. During this same year, neither my friends nor I have received a single summons to see the prosecutor, nor have we gotten any answers to the questions we asked. I am to understand that the investigation is at a standstill. There is complete silence. I think that the investigation team is called «the investigation of the Beslan terrorist act», but it has apparently been busy with any and all the other chores and errands.

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August 30 is the birthday of our beloved Anya, Anna Stepanovna

— On October 7th we will place a plaque dedicated to Politkovskaya on the (‘Novaya Gazeta’) building located at #3 Potapovskiy.
 — On September 8th there will be an awarding of the Anna Politkovskaya Kamerton (‘Tuning Fork’) national prize in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory.

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