The Music Theatre Is Not Going to Be Stormed Yet

PRAVDA.Ru correspondent Ilya Tarasov reports from Red Square, where a meeting is supposed to take place

A spokesman for the Russian Federal Security Bureau, (FSB) has just stated that the question pertaining to the storming of the music theatre was not even considered by the authorities. The damaged sewage system around the theatre was the result of the terrorists’ actions. A FSB spokesman stated that the terrorists damaged the sewage system with their gun shots.

Currently, there are many people on Red Square. The situation is rather tense. There are relatives of the hostages relatives there as well. The people are very nervous; they are on the edge of hysterical. Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s party, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), is holding a meeting. Many people have gathered for the meeting, basically, the youth. They ask to stop the war in Chechnya at any cost. Assistant to the president Sergey Yastrzhembsky is also there. So far, he has not given an interview or released any statements.

About 70 relatives and friends of the hostages gathered on Red Square at 1:00 p.m. Moscow time. They gathered on the part of the square that is called the Vasiliyevsky Lowering, since the Red Square itself is closed. The people are holding a demonstration. They are holding posters and slogans calling upon the authorities to stop the war in Chechnya and to start peace negotiations. Echo of Moscow radio station reported that the police are treating the meeting with understanding. They do not hinder the meeting; they only put down the slogans that the people hold. A bus with hostages’ relatives is expected to come to the square soon.

PRAVDA.Ru is watching the development of the situation.

PRAVDA.Ru

Translated by Dmitry Sudakov