15:39, 16 January 2004

Leonid Roshal: gas used to set hostages on Dubrovka free was not homicidal

We call your attention to the response Leonid Roshal, head of the Moscow Medical Center for Catastrophes, gave to Irina Khakamada's statement concerning the investigation into the storm of the Theatre Center on Dubrovka:

"I disagree with you in key issues. I have repeated many times this was a "victory with everybody's eyes full of tears." I believe there was no other way. Had the gas been homicidal, it would have killed all of more than 700 people. But over 600 of them are alive today. I think you were too excited when writing your letter. I negotiated with the terrorists just the same way as you did, I was in the hall, and I do not agree that they did not plan to blow the Theatre Center up. They did plan and could have blown up the building at any moment. It turns out that you nominate yourself for the presidency only because of this terrorist act and problems connected with it. It's a pity. You are a more interesting, more profound person."

Editors note: See also the article "Irina Khakamada makes appeal to victims of State terrorism".

Source: Interfax News Agency