Belsan mothers of the 334 hostages, mainly children, who were killed three years ago in a confrontation between troops and terrorists reveal that Russian troops fired into the school and were thus partially responsible for the deaths. Russian authorities have been arguing for three years that troops did not initiate the firing and that explosives planted by the terrorists were responsible for deaths of children. The film indicates otherwise. The mothers reportedly were told by Dimity Kozak, a representative of President Putin, that a parliamentary investigation would reach the same conclusion as that done by the police — the troops did not fire.
Lost in this tragedy is the tragedy of the Chechens who have been fighting for independence and have been abused and terrorized by Russian forces. No children would have been placed in this situation if Putin had been willing to extend reasonable offers to those rebelling against Russian rule.
