A recent survey by the independent Levada Center pollster reveals that the share of Russians who believe that authorities did everything they could to save the hostages in the Beslan school tragedy has reached its highest level in a decade.
In 2004, militants took over 1,100 civilians hostage at Beslan School No. 1 in Russia’s North Ossetia, resulting in the tragic deaths of over 330 people, including 186 children.
Despite widespread scrutiny of the Russian authorities’ response, 67% of Russian respondents now believe that everything possible was done to save the Beslan hostages. The survey found that those with higher education, a positive view of the country’s direction, approval of President Vladimir Putin, and trust in television as a news source were more likely to hold this belief.
However, about half of respondents attribute the hostages’ deaths to the terrorists’ actions, while some blame mistakes made by special forces. Russia’s authorities are criticized for shaping public opinion on the tragedy, with concerns raised by groups like Mothers of Beslan regarding the ongoing investigation.
The European Court of Human Rights has also criticized the Russian government’s handling of the incident, emphasizing the need for accountability and transparency.
