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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On February 21st, 2013, a heart stopped beating, the heart of OLGA BUTENKO — the heart of a sweet, tender, golden, and precocious girl. She was a student at the Stary Oskol Medical College (SOMC) and participant in the 2011 and 2012 ‘Nord-Ost’ requiem concerts.

“A good person is not one who knows how to do good, but one who does not know how to do evil…” (V. O. Klyuchevsky)

They say that Olga was a little girl with a GREAT BIG HEART. She only spent three semesters at SOMC, but you can write an endless chronicle about her life during this short period. Not a single college event went on without her. She had many talents, but her most important talent was LOVE. She loved her mother, friends, people, and her own life. While participating in the ‘Student Portfolio’ contest, Olga shared her dreams and spoke with admiration and deep respect about her idol Leo Bokeriya, stating with firmness that her dream was to become a heart surgeon like him. Olga was also quite able to empathize and sympathize.

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Europe today is observing the Day of Victims of Terrorism. This day commemorates over 5,000 people who were victims of terrorist attacks that occurred in the European Union.

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Committee of Ministers

Memorandum on implementation of judgment of the case "Finogenov and others v. Russia» (№ 18299/03 and № 27311/03)

1. Introduction

We turn to you with a request to take measures to urge the Russian Federation to follow its obligations under the European Convention of Human Rights. The Convention, ratified by the Russian Federation, creates an obligation for the state to fully implement ECtHR judgments (Art. 1 and Art.46).

On December 20, 2011 the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) passed the judgment in the case "Finogenov and others v. Russia” (№ 18299/03 and № 27311/03). On June 4, 2012, the judgment became final.

In the judgment, the Court stated a violation of the right to life of the hostages and their familiesby the State by way of inadequate planning and conduct of the operation to rescue the hostages, as well as by failing to conduct an effective investigation of the incident:

“Holds that there has been a violation of Article 2 of the Convention on account of the inadequate planning and conduct of the rescue operation,

Holds that there has been a violation of Article 2 of the Convention on account of the authorities’ failure to conduct an effective investigation into the rescue operation”.

The applicants submit that full implementation of the Court's judgment would require the initiation of criminal proceedings, which according to the judgment (§§ 273-282) were not conducted in accordance with the principles of an effective investigation.

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