Russian President Vladimir Putin called the emergency in Kazan, where a school shooting killed children, a terrible disaster and barbaric crime.
"We begin with the tragedy that recently took place in Kazan. As you know, two days ago a terrible disaster occurred. Children and teachers of school 175 became victims of a barbaric crime," the head of state said, opening a meeting with the government on Thursday.
Addressing the participants of the event, he asked to observe a minute of silence. The president himself stood up from his seat as a sign of this.
Putin added that the tragedy certainly shocked everyone. "In the difficult days together with the people of Kazan, with Tatarstan was and remains the whole of Russia," he stressed. As the head of state noted, residents of all Russian regions are eager to express sincere words of support and sympathy and take the pain of Kazan residents as their own.
"Once again I offer my deepest condolences to the relatives of the victims, to the families who lost the dearest things - their children, grandchildren, loved ones and loved ones," concluded Putin.
Aid to victims
All families affected by the emergency in Kazan will receive necessary assistance, the head of state promised. "I would like to stress once again: Tatarstan, all those who faced disaster, the affected families will definitely receive all necessary support and assistance," Putin said.
He reminded that immediately after the information about the shooting at the school he gave instructions to the Government, the Heads of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, law enforcement bodies to promptly visit Kazan to the place of the accident. "All these days we have also been in constant contact with Rustam Nurgaliyevich [Minnikhanov], the head of Tatarstan," Putin added.
At the meeting, the head of state heard a report by Health Minister Mikhail Murashko on how the wounded are being treated. "I am sure that everything possible is being done to save children's lives," Putin said. "We will think about it and pray for their recovery," he said.
To save the lives of the victims of the shooting in Kazan, all health care options will be used, Putin assured. "I emphasize: of course, we will use all the capabilities of our healthcare, including the leading clinics. We have already attracted the best surgeons, doctors of other specializations, modern equipment and medications," said the President. He called saving lives of the victims of the shooting in Kazan the most important task.
Putin said he was aware that children with serious injuries were among the injured. "I would like to wish all the wounded to recover and convey words of support to their families," he said. The Russian leader asked Murashko to report in detail "what the situation is at the moment, what additional measures may be needed to ensure the most effective treatment and subsequent rehabilitation and restoration of health of those who were wounded."
Payments
Putin instructed the government to provide additional assistance, if necessary, with payments to victims of the emergency in Kazan. "Our duty is to support those children who were victims of this terrible crime. As reported, payments from the regional budget for this purpose have already begun. I ask the Government of the Russian Federation to also get involved and provide additional assistance to the victims, if necessary," the head of state ordered.
"All students and staff of the gymnasium, where the tragedy occurred, certainly experienced a real shock. President Putin said: "Of course, children were particularly hard hit by the incident and need special rehabilitation".
Putin asked the head of Tatarstan to "take a broader look" at supporting the families of the victims of the emergency in Kazan. "Just take a broader look at these issues in terms of support for the affected families - there may be housing issues and other social problems unresolved in the families, the organization of children's recreation for individual families," the President said to Minnikhanov.
"Just take a broader look, you're a very experienced person and, I know, relating to issues of this kind in the most attentive way, you understand what we're talking about," Putin said. "Work with each family, and then report to me additional proposals for the families of the victims," the President pointed out.
The head of state thanked Minnikhanov for promptly making decisions to support the families of the victims, "especially those who lost their children as a result of this terrible crime." "And the money was allocated in time, this is correct," Putin said.
The President of Tatarstan noted that the republic's authorities have already begun working on additional measures to support the victims and the families of the victims. "This work has begun, we will have meetings every day, I myself plan to meet with the families of the victims. Our banks have been approached - if anyone has any loans, if there is a need for rehabilitation, we will bring all these issues to a decent level," said Minnikhanov.
According to the press service of the head of Tatarstan, the day before, at the request of the President of the Republic, Ak Bars Bank started "to work on the topic of zeroing of loans".
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS