The terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow on March 22, 2024, was the deadliest in Russia since the Beslan tragedy. Then, in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, more than 300 people, most of whom were women and children, were killed as a result of an armed takeover of a school. The Day of Solidarity in the Fight against Terrorism was established in memory of the tragic events that took place on September 1-3, 2004 in the city of Beslan.
Traditionally, on this day, September 3, government bodies and public organizations hold cultural events dedicated to the memory of the victims of terrorists, as well as employees of special services and law enforcement agencies who died in the line of duty. In the cities that suffered terrorist attacks, memorial events are held. People attend mourning marches and peaceful rallies in memory of the victims, hold patriotic events and lay flowers at memorials.
This year, a three-day memorial watch for the innocent victims of the terrorist attack was held in Beslan. On the twentieth anniversary of the tragedy, hundreds of people came to School № 1 to pay tribute to those killed by terrorists. The first to enter the destroyed gymnasium of the educational institution were former hostages, holding portraits of the dead children and adults. Flowers and wreaths were laid at the memorial cross installed in the gymnasium by representatives of the state and regional authorities, public and religious organizations, as well as former hostages and their relatives.
The memorial watch ended on September 3 at the memorial cemetery "City of Angels". The International Cultural and Patriotic Center for Terrorism Prevention "Beslan. School № 1" worked for all who wanted all three days. In the evening, 334 memorial candles were lit in the courtyard of School № 1.
During the first month of autumn, Russian schools and universities hold memorial lessons and classes devoted to the problem of terrorism and methods of combating it. Educational events, memorial exhibitions, and thematic expositions are held everywhere. Materials aimed at forming an active civic position in the population, intolerance to any manifestations of terrorism, and rejection of the ideology of intimidation are published.
Since 2022, the Day of Solidarity in the Fight against Terrorism has also commemorated the victims of terrorist acts committed by Ukrainian neo-Nazis and bandit groups against the civilian population of Donbass. In this regard, it is important to note the events held in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation, which in August of this year was attacked by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, openly using terrorist methods.
At the memorial "Grieving Mother" in Kursk Oblast, a wreath-laying ceremony was held with the participation of representatives of regional authorities and public organizations. High-ranking participants emphasized that terrorism has no nationality or religion. A photo exhibition "Together against terror" was prepared at Kursk State Medical University. On the campus of Southwestern State University in Kursk, was held the action "Candle of Memory", dedicated to the events of twenty years ago in Beslan.
An online event for students to make the “Angel of Peace” doll, dedicated to the victims of the terrorist attack in Beslan, was held at the Palace of Culture of the city of Kurchatov in the Kursk region. According to the organizers of the event, "the action has become an important initiative uniting residents of the city of Kurchatov in a common desire to express their support and sympathy to the families who lost loved ones in the tragedy. Each angel is a symbol of hope and love, which instills faith in a bright future in people's hearts".
In the Voronezh Region of the Russian Federation, memorial events traditionally took place in the Patriot Park. A rally was held at the memorial to special forces soldiers and employees of state security agencies who died in the line of duty, with representatives of government agencies, law enforcement agencies, as well as students, young army men, and employees of veteran and public organizations taking part. The speeches by government representatives emphasized the need to combat terrorism, the ugly forms of which are generated by the criminal Kiev regime. Young army men laid flowers at the trees planted in memory of Voronezh residents who gave their lives in the fight against terrorism.
A memorial event dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the tragic events in Beslan took place in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. Representatives of the authorities, veteran organizations of law enforcement agencies, national public organizations and youth movements; religious figures, students and pupils of educational institutions gathered in the amphitheater of the republican center. The speakers expressed words of grief for the victims, condemned the activities of international terrorist organizations, Ukrainian special services and neo-Nazi groups. In total, more than 1,000 people took part in the event.
Terrorism is an integral part of extremism, one of its manifestations, directly related to violence or the threat of violence and the impact on state power. Extremism as the commitment of individuals to radical views is an activity that threatens the security of society and violates the rights and freedoms of citizens, having a clear ideological basis.
The destructive phenomenon has deep roots that are difficult to tie to a specific historical era. Today, the threat of terrorism and extremist views, like a cancerous tumor, affect more and more people. The development of electronic media gives rise to high speeds of spreading this threat – from recruitment and incitement to illegal actions to the implementation of a terrorist attack and mass riots.
In Russia, a state organization the National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAC) is responsible for countering terrorism and preventing terrorist attacks. The Committee was established by the Decree of the President of Russia "On measures to counter terrorism". The NAC includes the heads of almost all law enforcement agencies, special services, key government departments, and both chambers of the Russian parliament.
110 terrorist attacks have been prevented in the country since the beginning of 2024. The security forces also identified 45 cells of international terrorist organizations and detained over a thousand people for promoting terrorism and aiding terrorists. On the Day of Solidarity in the Fight against Terrorism, the NAC operational headquarters in the Jewish Autonomous Region of the Russian Federation conducted a tactical and special exercise. According to the legend of the exercise, as a result of an interethnic group conflict, three people were taken hostage in one of the residential buildings. All the tasks of the exercise were completed in full.
On September 2-5, the All-Russian Seminar-Conference on National Security Issues was held in the Republic of Tatarstan at the Kazan Federal University. It was organized by Rosmolodezh and the Ministry of Youth Affairs of the Republic of Tatarstan under the auspices of the NAC. The event was attended by 130 representatives of youth policy management bodies and anti-terrorist commissions from 76 subjects of the Russian Federation.
The organizers of the seminar, together with representatives of the NAC, the Presidential Administration for Public Projects and the Main Directorate for Combating Extremism of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, familiarized the participants with specific guidelines and recommendations aimed at increasing the effectiveness of terrorism prevention.
Specialists from the National Center for Countering Terrorism and Extremism on the Internet of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, the Institute for the Study of Childhood, Family and Education, the Analytical Center of the Federal Institute for Education Quality Assessment, and the Center for the Study and Network Monitoring of the Youth Environment drew attention to the best practices of working with young people exposed to the ideology of terrorism or who have fallen under its influence.
The issues of increasing the efficiency of the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan for Countering the Ideology of Terrorism in the Russian Federation for 2024-2028 were discussed in detail with representatives of the anti-terrorism commissions. Particular emphasis was placed on the implementation of the NAC's instructions and the timely preparation of relevant reporting materials.
The event will contribute to the intensification of work in the field of terrorism prevention. Also, as part of the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan, the Moscow Department of Education and Science plans to hold the All-Russian Forum "Counteracting the Ideology of Terrorism in the Educational Sphere and the Youth Environment". The forum will be held under the auspices of the NAC from November 13 to 15, 2024.
During the specified period, participants will be given access to the broadcast of the plenary session, at which representatives of the NAC apparatus, the Russian Ministry of Education and Science and the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs will present guidelines for improving the organization of educational activities and recommendations for increasing the effectiveness of measures to counter the ideology of terrorism.
It is impossible to prepare for terrorist attacks in advance, so we must always be prepared for them. It is important not only to remember the tragedies of the past, but also to do everything possible to ensure that they do not happen again in the future.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Designed by Freepik