Composition:

• Capture of Hostages in Moscow

Capture of Hostages in Moscow

The events which happened in Moscow have shocked the world. Under this critical conditions we are to unite and to do everything possible to save hostages.

October 24 and 25 there were a few entries put into the guestbook of the Museum , which reflect the feelings of the people in this situation. The guestbook is permanently open for the comments and opinions of all persons concerned.

Here is the chronology of events in Moscow

[24 October 10.00 hrs]

Capture of Hostages in Moscow
October 23 at 21.40 hrs 30-40 Chechen terrorists under the command of field commander Movsar Baraev have captured the Theater Center (Moscow , Street Dubrovka) and have taken as hostages about 600 persons. A few hours later 41 persons were released by the terrorists, while some 100-120 persons (mostly actors)succeeded to escape. The terrorists demanded to stop the war in Chechnya within one week.
Among the hostages there are about 20 foreign citizens (Austria, Australia, Netherlands and Germany).

[24 October 11.00 hrs]

Capture of Hostages in Moscow
According to Moscow radio among hostages there are sitizens of USA, GB and some other countries. The hostages were given water by the terrorists at 11.00 and there are no wounded persons among them. According to reports of NTV and RTR there died in the hospital the policeman who was shooted at by terrorists in the evening October 23 when he tried to enter the theater.
According to Moscow radio the correct time of start of the attack of terrorists is 21.05 hrs October 23.

[24 October 14.00 hrs]

Capture of Hostages in Moscow
Around 13.00 hrs the terrorists stated that they are ready to meet with leaders of the national political parties Irina Khakamada (Union of Right Forces) and Alexey Yavlinsky (Yabloko). By 13.10 Irina Khakamada arrived at the spot. According to "Mayak" radio the State Duma (Parliament of Russia) have adopted the statement condemning the terrorist act. As stated by Mr.Gurov (the Committee for Security) "now the country is in danger".
At 13. 30 the terrorists allowed to Josef Kobzon (famous singer), 2 representatives of the Red Cross and the correspondent of Sundy Times to enter the building. The "Mayak" radio broadcasting station announced that the terrorists are ready change every 10 hostages for 1 member of State Duma. Another 4 persons (3 children and 1 female) were released by the terrorists.

[24 October 16.00 hrs]

Capture of Hostages in Moscow
Name of the person speaking on behalf of terrorists is Abu Said. There are 25 males and 25 females terrosists wearing Shahid belts in the theatre which has been mined. The terrorists demanded to send foreign doctors to the theatre.
According to Vladimir Putin's statement made over the TV the terrorist act in Moscow was planned and prepared in one of the terrorist centers located abroad.
Singer Josef Kobzon who was met by terrorists, have evacuated from the building a women with 3 chidren and a British citizen. At 15.30 Kobzon accompanied by Irina Hakamada entered the building again.
According to RenTV it is the only TV channel which established direct link with hostages and the terrorists.
Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs opened the line for exchange of information about hostages - foreign citizens by the phone (095)244- 4581 and 244-4119.

[24 October 19.00 hrs]

Capture of Hostages in Moscow
Body of a women (around 20 years old) killed by terrorist was evacuated by Jordanian doctors from the theatre half an hour ago. Before that a hostage Maria Shkolnikova came out of the theatre to read the appeal to Russian leadership prepared and signed by the hostages.
According to Moscow Committee of Education there are 40 scholars of 12 to 16 years old in the theatre. All of them came at the thetre October 23 to watch the performance "Nord Ost" in the company with their parents.
According to Irina Khakamada the initiative in negotiation with terrorists goes over to the Kremlin
At 18.30 (Moscow time) there were heard a few explosions in the theatre.

[24 October 21.00 hrs]

Capture of Hostages in Moscow
Sound of explosions in the theatre 18.30 (Moscow time) )were sounds of granade louncher shots fired by terrorists at two hostaged who tried to escape from the theatre. One of the escapers was wounded. According to FSB the terrorists captured about 700 hostages including 70 foreigners (Canada -1, the USA - 4, Germany - 7, Netherlands -2, Australia - 2, Turkey - 3, GB - 1, Ukraine -30 etc.)

[24 October 24.00 hrs]

Capture of Hostages in Moscow
According to RenTV Maria Shkolnikova (see 24 October, 19 hrs), who was released from the theatre said that the terrorists didnot killed anybody yet and the corps evacuated from the theatre was the the body of a male who died because of peritonitis. Her information was confirmed by Oksana Ignatovskaya an earlier released pregnant hostage with three children (see October 24, 16.00 hrs).
Former peacekeeper Alexander Dubravny and chairman of an NGO "Children are together with the UN" Karelin with other 13 members of the NGO proposed to take them as hostages in exchange of women and children captured by the terrorists.

[25 October 10.00 hrs]

Capture of Hostages in Moscow
Accorging to Radio Russia there are 2 citizens of Canada in the theater (a woman with her sun of 14 years).
Sergey Ignatchenko announced that during the night there were released another 7 hostages with assistance of the operational HQ.
At night the terrorists demanded from the hostages to ring up to their relatives and to request them to organize posts with the slogans in protest of war in Chechnya.
Ambassadors of a few countries and the Red Cross members have visited the theatre in the morning but they failed to convince terrorists to liberate any body.
Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs will cooperate with Secret Services of a few countries in the release of hostages. The proposals on assistance came from USA, Germany, Austria, GB, Spain and other countries.

[25 October 12.00 hrs]

Capture of Hostages in Moscow
According to Radio Russia famous Moscow surgeon Leonid Roshal was promised by the terrorists that they liberate today about 15 children of 15 years old locked in the theatre. Among them there are a few sick boys. Leonid Roshal have made a surgical operation to one of the terrorists.
Moscow Government decided to allow to relatives of hostages to organize a demonstration against war in Chechnya at the Red Square in Moscow today. The demonstration will be organized following the telephone calls received by relatives from the hostages at night.