The Beslan school siege began 20 years ago today. The events of that day are still seared into my memory. More significantly it was a turning point in Vladimir Putin's rule.
Thank you again for a well written knowledgeable article.
I have read the obituary recently of one of the SAS involved in the Iranian embassy siege.
Did the Russian special forces attempt to negotiate with the militants to resolve the situation or space within which to find a way of storming the building to save lives?
No, there were no serious negotiations. When the Russian special forces did storm the building they did so across open ground and took significant losses. One estimate has them losing 10 soldiers, but the number could have been more. In terms of saving civilian lives, there was no serious effort on the part of the Russian authorities. That said, the terrorists had learned their lessons from the Nord Ost theatre siege in Moscow in 2002 and had prepared for a fight. I think any special forces would have struggled to end the siege in Beslan without high casualties among the civilians.
Thank you again for a well written knowledgeable article.
I have read the obituary recently of one of the SAS involved in the Iranian embassy siege.
Did the Russian special forces attempt to negotiate with the militants to resolve the situation or space within which to find a way of storming the building to save lives?
No, there were no serious negotiations. When the Russian special forces did storm the building they did so across open ground and took significant losses. One estimate has them losing 10 soldiers, but the number could have been more. In terms of saving civilian lives, there was no serious effort on the part of the Russian authorities. That said, the terrorists had learned their lessons from the Nord Ost theatre siege in Moscow in 2002 and had prepared for a fight. I think any special forces would have struggled to end the siege in Beslan without high casualties among the civilians.