By Olga Martynenko

25.10.2002

The Unusual Adventures of Italians in Russia

In ‘Moscow News’

On the day after the seizure of hostages, journalists Julio Jelibter and Roberto Scarfone from the Italian news agency ANSA entered the theater at Dubrovka unimpeded and spoke with the terrorists.

The journalists wrote in the Italian paper ‘La Repubblica’:

After we managed to get around the guard posts, special forces units, and people from the FSB, we entered the theater building.  The square in front was empty, and a grave-like silence reigned, though a few dozen meters away a huge number of security forces were assembled.  The theater doors were closed, their glass broken, and inside and outside the building one could see the marks of bullets.  The audience’s coats were handing in the garderobe, and everywhere were bullet holes, broken glass, and other objects.

We were shocked to be able to make it into the insurgents’ nest.  We saw no one until we yelled that we were representatives of the Italian press.  Then a voice called from the upper floor, inviting us to climb up.  We saw what looked like a hastily constructed barricade, behind which were four armed young partisans in masks, later joined by a fifth with a pistol and no mask.  We asked if we could ask a few questions, and received permission. “We have only one request,” said the unmasked man, who was dressed like the others in a khaki uniform. “The Russian forces must immediately leave Chechnya.”  This man confirmed that they were all from Movsar Barayev’s group.  We asked if their commander was in the theater, and the answer was in the affirmative.

At one point one of the men with Kalashnikovs and pistols raised a dark curtain, from behind came three women (the widows of Chechen commanders) in black Moslem clothing.  Their faces were covered and one could only see their eyes.  The women threw open their jackets and showed us the black bands about their waists, filled with explosives.  They were silent, and one of the men spoke: “They are also prepared to die, to blow themselves up in the name of an independent Chechnya.”

The insurgents assured us that no one here had been killed or injured, and that they were ready to resist to the very end.  To our question as to whether we could speak with the hostages, we were given this answer: “No, you must now leave and tell everyone that we will stand here until the very end.”

A dozen meters from the theater exit we were detained by special police units and questioned for about an hour.  After it seemed that the questioning was complete, it continued for another two hours in a different place, under the FSB.

‘Moscow News’ decided to clarify the situation firsthand, and after some exertion we managed to reach Roberto Scarfone by telephone:

What did you experience on entering the theater?  Fear?

Certainly, certainly, bearing in mind the circumstances.  We were able to get in, but we weren’t sure that we’d get out so easily.  We were afraid, of course.

You reported that you didn’t see the hostages, only their clothing in the garderobe.  This is a horrifying detail, almost in the spirit of Hitchcock.

Yes, the coats were hanging in the garderobe, right by the entrance.  I’d never been to this theater before.  My first time there was under circumstances about which I’d prefer not to think.

Judging from your story, the terrorists were rather amicable.

I’m extremely uncomfortable that people would think that I was on the terrorist’s side.  It’s not so, I’m a peaceful person and do my job, which is informing the public.  Of course, the Chechens wished to make a good impression on us, and make us appear objective witnesses.

Do you intend to return there?

I must confess that I forgot my hat in the theater, which I’ve been wearing for 20 years.  It would really come in handy in this weather.  I think that the security agencies that questioned us will probably recognize me and not allow us to pass so easy this time.