YAKOV KROTOV

October 24, 22.20: Chechens and Hostages

Putin, politicianc and media called Chechens who took the hostages "bandits" and "terrorists." The prosecutor of Moscow declared that he opened a case against them for taking hostages and for the terrorism. Actually they didn't do anything which can be labeled as "terrorism." They even let children and some women go. The government--both central and Moscow--haven't began talks with them. Putin didn't come to the spot. Instead he declared that "terrorists" were trained by some "foreign center" and paid for what thet done. He didn't gave any evidences. He didn't explaine why--with such information available to the secret service beforehand--they didn't prevent the accident.

I think that the proclaimed by most officials position--that the lives of hostages are the supreme value--is hypocritical. The power over Chechnya, the "imperial glory" are more important to them. I am afraid they will try to kill Chechen combatants, even with hostages, in order to hide the truth about the situation in Chechnya.

The situation was better under Yeltsin. When Chechens took hostages in 1998 prime-minister called them and apoke with them, and the talk had been broaedcasted. This saved the situation. Putin's government is first of a all afraid to behave in open way, it prefers the "Soviet" style ofr secrecy, propagandistic lie and senseless violence.

I decided to lent in order to pray better for the hostages and for all sides of conflict.

I sympathize to Chechens. We Russians are all hostages taken by post-Bolshevics (or you can call them Bolshevics, or nomenclature, or former KGB-men.) The government is deaf to Russians as well to Chechens. The government violates are rights as well. The government doesn't rule according to the law, and we are helpless, we are cowards (some are Christian pacifists, the result is the same.) Chechens dared to do what all Russian must do--they've dared to rebel.

October 26, 23.20

What a dreaful result! Government and media (which is governmentally controlled) avoid any mentioning of nearly hundred victims. They speak only about the "heroism" and "cleverness" of "soldiers". They praise them even for killing Chechens (including women) who've been asleep. Even the war logic say that an enemy must be taken alove to receive information. But their logic is a cannibalistic one. And the West is silent...