Nalchik holds mourning ceremonies on 5th anniversary of attack

The Square of Accord in the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria was the venue of the rally on the fifth anniversary of the tragic events in Nalchik in 2005, when militants attacked power agencies of the republic. By the end of the rally, a group of women appeared in the square, whose sons took part in the attack and were killed or arrested, and whose sons were killed in special operations or disappeared.

The rally began with a minute of silence, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

Alexander Merkulov, chairman of the local government, said, addressing the rally, that five years ago inconsolable grief visited many families of Kabardino-Balkaria. "Even today, extremist attacks continue; law enforcers and civilians continue perishing," said Mr Merkulov. He offered to unite the efforts of the authorities, civil society and mass media in resisting the evil.

Anuar Chechenov, chairman of the parliament, noted in his speech that what had happened five years ago could hardly be called a spontaneous revolt, "as certain right defenders try to present." According to his story, there is no more reason trying to look for someone's mistakes and blunders in what had happened. "They were religious fanatics, driven by emissaries from abroad and committing crimes against the state foundations. One should not think that solution of all problems is the mission of the state, not of the entire society," he said.

Timur Kashezhev, representative of the regional branch of the "Edinaya Rossiya" (United Russia) Party, saw the way out in dialogue. "People, who fight for their rights with arms in hand, are wrong. Dialogue - that's the way out," he said.

Khazretali Dzasezhev, Deputy Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kabardino-Balkaria cited an ayat from the Koran that "one who kills an innocent human is equal to the one who has killed all the mankind." "Murder is beyond the grace of Allah and is a great sin," he said.

After the rally, members of the government and the public laid flowers at the commemorative plaque in honour of Heroes of Russia Anatoly Kyarov and Alexander Krasikov.

By the end of the rally, a group of women appeared in the square, whose sons participated in the attack and were killed or arrested, and those whose sons were killed in special operations or disappeared. They brought posters reading: "Who benefits from terror in the Caucasus?", "Stop the fratricidal war," "Bring back my kidnapped son Timur Begidov" and others.

Today, the schools of the republic also held lessons of courage; law enforcement bodies organized meetings with relatives of perished militiamen. Flowers were laid to monuments erected in honour of assassinated militiamen.