Moscow Theatre Siege 2003
(updated 3rd Sept 2004)
Moscow govt feels no guilt about theatre raid (01/05/2003)
MOSCOW - The government of Moscow “feels no guilt” about the terrorist act in the Nord-Ost musical theater. Vice Mayor Valery Shantsev made such statement live on the Echo of Moscow radio, commenting on numerous lawsuits brought by the victims against the Moscow government. As with many of these news reports - I've been sent clippings and details from many people - could you please ensure that web links, copyright and other information is included - otherwise it takes me ages to track down the appropriate sources. We re-print these details in the interests of public safety and the numerous workshops and research activities we are involved in around the world. If you are going to quote from this website please check our disclaimer page. Also click here for links to other stadium disasters.
On October 23-26, over 800 people were hold hostage by a group of 41 Chechen terrorists. As a result of a rescue operation, 129 people died. Independent experts assume this happened as many of them being in poor condition and receiving no timely medical treatment could not stand the gas used to neutralize the terrorists.
At the same time, according to Mr. Shantsev, the Moscow government “was doing everything possible since the very first moment of the hostage taking.” In addition he stressed that “the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Federal Security Service and political parties” had already checked the actions of the Moscow government during these tragic events and had no arguments about them.
As an example of efficient activities of the Moscow government the Vice Mayor mentioned that “some eight hundred victims were transported to hospitals over a little more than an hour.” “No one ever did this before in the whole world,” he emphasized.
It’s worth mentioning that two preliminary hearings of 14 lawsuits have been held in the Tverskoy Court of Moscow today. All lawsuits were submitted to the court to claim compensations for moral damage for the amount of $14.571m, Igor Trunov, a lawyer for former hostages and families of killed hostages, told RBC. The court made a decision that these lawsuits would be considered on January 17. Earlier, the court ruled that 24 similar lawsuits would be considered on January 16.
Today, the number of lawsuits brought by the victims of the Moscow siege reached 48. According to Trunov, nine more lawsuits were brought today for the amount of $7.062m. In other words, the total amount of lawsuits brought against the Moscow government is now $47.681m. Preliminary hearing of these nine lawsuits was scheduled for January 9.