At the memorial to the victims of Dubrovka terror attack. Photo: RFE/RL

27 October 2017, 12:05

Relatives of victims of Dubrovka terror act treat it as most terrible tragedy for last 15 years

In Moscow, on October 26, at the Dubrovka Theatrical Centre, 130 white balloons were released into the sky – equal to the number of casualties of the 2002 terror act. The participants of the action told about the pain that they still feel when recollect the events of 15 years ago.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that October 23 was the 15th anniversary of the capture by militants of the Dubrovka Theatrical Centre, where during the assault undertaken on October 26, 2002, at least 130 hostages perished.

On October 23, 2002, during the musical "Nord-Ost", militants took 916 people hostage with the demand to stop combat actions in Chechnya. Three days later, during the assault of the building, at least 130 people were killed, and more than 700 others were injured. Relatives and friends of the victims demand from the authorities to answer questions concerning what kind of gas and on whose order was used during the assault and why no competent evacuation was organized and no medical assistance was provided to the victims.

The commemoration events took place in Moscow yesterday, on October 26. People brought flowers and candles to the memorial in Melnikov Street, photos of their deceased relatives, icons and children's toys. And by tradition, they released 130 white balloons into the sky – equal to the number of casualties, the "Zvezda" TV Channel has reported.

"This is probably the most terrible tragedy of our society; I'm still touched with it after 15 years. I myself work at a musical theatre; and I see our guests who come every day. And I understand that those spectators [of the 'Nord-Ost' musical] came in the same way," said a woman.

The victims of the terror act and their relatives themselves say that so far the memories of what happened causes pain in them, "Channel One" reports, citing the participants of the memory action at the Dubrovka Theatrical Centre.

"I was together with my daughter, my husband and my girlfriend [among the hostages]. Only my girlfriend and I managed to survive; my husband and my daughter perished; I was wounded. I come here [to commemoration of the terror act victims], and every time I'm scared to approach the place," Tamara Starkova said, in particular.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

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