In Beslan, hundreds of people gather on anniversary of school assault

On the final day of the commemorative watch in Beslan, the people, who gathered in the building of the destroyed school No. 1, laid flowers at the memorial and released 334 balloons into the sky to symbolize the number of those killed.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 1, the three-day mourning events in North Ossetia started with a memorial service and laying of flowers at the Beslan school, which was seized by terrorists 17 years ago.

Today, the commemorative events have taken place in the destroyed Beslan school No. 1 and at the “City of Angels” cemetery. The Orthodox clergy celebrated the liturgy. People went to school from the very morning and brought flowers there. Despite the rain and a sharp cold snap, hundreds of people came to honour the memory of the victims.

334 white balloons were released into the sky to symbolize how many victims were taken by the terror act in Beslan, the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent reported.

Yevgeny, a resident of Pyatigorsk, often visits Vladikavkaz for business, and he comes to Beslan every year. When the terror act took place, he was serving in the army. According to Yevgeny, he was deeply shocked by the tragedy. “I am a parent, my child is seven years old, and he went to the first grade this year. When the tragedy occurred, I was not even a parent, but it was very difficult for me. And now I understand that terrible tragedy even deeper. And I think every adequate person understands what is impunity for everything that is happening in our Russia,” Yevgeny told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

Vladimir Tkachuk, the director of the Education Development Centre of Nevinnomyssk, also comes to Beslan every year, and he brings his children and their teachers to take part in commemorative events. This year he brought 28 young professional teachers.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 3, 2021 at 05:47 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.