Parliamentary questions
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3325/02
by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Council
(13 November 2002)

Subject: Official death toll in the Moscow hostage crisis

According to the figures provided by the Moscow city prosecutor on 7 November 2002, 128 people (120 Russians and eight foreigners) died in the hostage crisis which unfolded at the theatre in Melnikova Street between 23 and 26 October 2002. Five of these victims, all Russians, had died from gunshot wounds, implying that 123 people had died as a result of inhaling the gas used in the storming of the theatre. These latest figures from the Russian authorities also indicated that all the hostage-takers (19 women and 22 men) had been killed in the attack. The same authorities had previously stated that "two terrorists" had been taken prisoner.

How does the Council view the fact that the Russian authorities, who had originally claimed to have captured the two terrorists, now say that all the terrorists died in the attack? Has the Council already requested a list of the names of all those who died in the hostage crisis, including the names of the terrorists, and the cause of each person's death? More generally, has the Council drawn any conclusions from the latest figures provided by the Russian authorities and the way that the antiterrorist operation was conducted, and if so what conclusions has it reached?

E-3209/02 and E-3325/02
Joint Reply
(20 February 2003)

The holding in Moscow of over 700 hostages, from 23 to 26 October 2002, was a source of grave concern in the EU, as it was in Russia. The European Council, on 24/25 October 2002, expressed its position on this set of events in the declaration issued on 25 October and contained in Annex III of the related Conclusions of the Presidency.

On the occasion of the EU-Russia summit held in Brussels, on 11 November 2002, the European Union and Russia made a joint statement on the fight against terrorism, in which they declared to stand united in this fight with due regard for the rule of law, for democratic principles and for the territorial integrity of States. On the basis of common commitments they drew common aims with a view to developing their strategic partnership in this respect, including the definition of EU-Russia co-operation in the fight against terrorism.