The Wire

Last week, 130,000 people gathered outside the Kremlin in Moscow, in a state-sponsored anti-terrorism rally. The crowd observed a minutes’ silence, anthems were played and senior politicians and public figures gave speeches promoting the government’s position on terrorism. The rally was the peak event for an official two-day mourning period in Russia, in the wake of the Beslan tragedy. Large rallies have also been held in Kazhakstan, the Ukraine and North Ossetia, where the crowds called for resignation of local leaders. Russian President Vladimir Putin has been criticised by the international media for using the rallies as a way to deflect public anger and distract from the lack of real answers to the many questions left by the Beslan incident. While the European Union and United States have called for a political solution to the crisis, President Putin has argued that negotiating with the Chechens would be like President Bush talking with Osama Bin Laden, and has vowed to use pre-emptive strikes against terrorists anywhere in the world. Ed Giles spoke to Dr Peter Lentini, from Monash University’s School of Political and Social Enquiry, who explained how the Russian government’s response will affect both its own citizens and the international community.