Beslan school siege: 334 dead in 2004 tragedy

On September 1, 2004, over 30 armed militants took control of a school in Beslan, North Ossetia, during the first day of the school year, holding more than 1,000 hostages, including over 700 children. The attackers, linked to an Islamist group led by Chechen separatist Shamil Basayev, demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops from Chechnya and recognition of its independence. The siege ended three days later with a violent assault by Russian security forces, resulting in 334 deaths, including 186 children. In the aftermath, President Vladimir Putin faced criticism for his handling of the situation, particularly for not meeting with the families of victims. As the 20th anniversary approached, he returned to Beslan, where he met with grieving mothers who accused him of delaying a thorough investigation into the events. They claimed that the federal authorities had sabotaged negotiations for the hostages' release and used excessive force during the rescue operation. Experts have pointed to the indiscriminate actions of Russian forces in Chechnya as a contributing factor to the radicalization of separatists, suggesting that the brutal tactics employed by the government created a mobilization base for armed resistance. The European Court of Human Rights later ruled that the response to the hostage crisis was poorly coordinated and led to unnecessary casualties among the hostages. Despite the tragedy, the Russian government has not fully acknowledged the complexities surrounding the attack, and many families continue to seek justice and accountability for the loss of their loved ones. The legacy of the Beslan tragedy remains a painful reminder of the violence and turmoil in the North Caucasus region.