Attempt to stifle the Voice of Beslan

The leaders of the organization “Voice of Beslan” have gone on hunger strike in protest at the ruling of the North Osetia Supreme Court which effectively bans the activities of the organization. They announced their decision in the courtroom. 

Leader of the organization Ella Kesayeva said that the examination of their appeal against the ruling of a court in Vladivostok requiring registration of a new make up of the organization had been carried out with flagrant infringements. They had not been allowed to engage in debate and their application for the judge to be withdrawn had not been considered.

The civic organization has been subjected to pressure from the regional authorities for the last year over their demands regarding investigation into the terrorist attack in Beslan. As we reported at the time, on 22 November 2007, Ella Kesayeva had administrative charges instituted against her for placing a “road sign” reading “Putin’s Course”.  The sign had an arrow and was positioned so that it pointed to School No. 1 in Beslan where 331 people died in 2004.

In the tragic chaos which ended the terrorist siege of the school, 186 children and 145 adults were killed, and 728 Beslan residents and 55 enforcement officers were injured. 12 security service officers died, as well as one local resident attempting to free the hostages. 31 fighters were killed. One of the terrorists who seized the hostages was later tried.