Twenty years after the Beslan school siege, relatives of the victims gathered to pay tribute at the ruins of the school, honoring the 330 people, including 186 children, who lost their lives in Russia’s deadliest terror attack. The siege began on September 1, 2004, when militants from Chechnya stormed Beslan School No. 1, taking 1,100 hostages, including children, parents, and teachers. For nearly 52 hours, the hostages were held without food or water, while negotiations with the militants proved tense and unproductive. On the third day, a series of explosions erupted inside the school, triggering an assault by Russian special forces.
The Beslan tragedy, including the storming of the school by security forces, sparked widespread outrage and grief, as well as criticism of the Russian authorities. In 2017, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Russian government did not act on evidence of the likely attack and used “indiscriminate force” that contributed to the casualties among the hostages. The court also stated that Russian authorities had information about the planned attack but failed to prevent it or heighten security measures. The Mothers of Beslan group expressed concerns about the lack of an objective investigation and called for a new probe into the Beslan attack.
President Vladimir Putin, who visited Beslan for the first time in a decade, laid flowers at the City of Angels memorial cemetery and visited the school for the first time since the massacre. Speaking with mothers of victims, Putin drew parallels between the fight against terrorism in the early 2000s and Russia’s current actions in Ukraine. The Mothers of Beslan group expressed frustration over the incomplete investigation into the school siege during their meeting with Putin. An open letter published by a relative of several siege victims called on Russian generals involved in the Beslan operation to answer allegations about their use of deadly force.
The Mothers of Beslan group expressed concerns about the lack of progress in the investigation and called for a new probe into the Beslan attack. Despite criticisms from victims’ relatives over the years, Putin visited Beslan for the first time in a decade ahead of the 20th anniversary of the school siege. The European Court of Human Rights ruled in 2017 that the Russian government did not act on evidence of the likely attack and used “indiscriminate force” that contributed to the casualties among the hostages. The group called on Russian generals involved in the Beslan operation to answer allegations about their use of deadly force, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability in the aftermath of the tragedy.
The events of the Beslan school siege 20 years ago continue to impact the families of the victims and the wider community, with many still seeking answers and justice. The siege, which resulted in the loss of 330 lives, including 186 children, remains a traumatic and painful chapter in Russia’s history. The lack of progress in the investigation and the European Court of Human Rights’ ruling have raised concerns about the government’s handling of the tragedy. Relatives of the victims, including the Mothers of Beslan group, continue to push for a new probe into the events of September 2004 in order to uncover the truth and ensure that such a tragedy does not happen again.
