Siberian Chechen Saitiev tells of horror

Olympic champion Bouvaissa Saitiev of Russia arrived in his hometown Krasnoyarsk, the capital of Siberia

Chechens look rather menacing in their appearance, like the majority of Caucasian nations. Five-time world champion Bouvaissa Saitiev is not an exception. The freestyle wrestler is very tough, energetic and pushing on the arena floor. However, he is a kind and responsive person in everyday life. Few people know that the athlete comes from the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, which is situated 4,000 kilometers (four time zones) far from Chechnya.

Bouvaissa rejoiced at his victory in Athens like a little boy. The wrestler clinched his gold medal on the day of the presidential election in Chechnya. The athlete gave a press conference on September 6th, upon his arrival at the airport of Krasnoyarsk, Regnum news agency reported.

”You know, I think I am happy for my Olympic victory. On the other hand, it is hard for me to be happy because of the events in Beslan. Those criminals have no principles, no ideals. They seize children and shoot them. They are beasts, not humans!” Bouvaissa Saitiev said at the conference. 

As it turned out, Saitiev's friends were held hostages at the seized school: Ruslan Frayev, his mother and daughter. Bouvaissa knew Ruslan very well – he was one of the first men, who showed resistance to the terrorists, but was killed. The terrorists killed his mother too, but their daughter survived the horror of Beslan.

”We have so many special services in the country, like nowhere else in the world. I have not seen so many police officers in the streets of any other city. However, we can not take our children to school even on September 1st!” Bouvaissa said in temper.

Aleksey Georgiyev