Elena Kostiuchenko
Translated by Henry Nash
Edited by Elena Susanna Weygandt
Elena Kostiuchenko from the “Novaya Gazeta:” Beslan was a failure. A hole in the fabric of
the world. 12 years have passed and the hole has not gone away. The events in Beslan have
forever burdened the lives of many, who try to plug this hole with whatever they can.
On the morning of September 1st, 2004, terrorists captured school No. 1 in Beslan (Northern
Ossetia). 334 people and 186 children were killed as a result of the planned assault on the school.
At a memorial service outside of school No.1 on September 1st, 2016, six women whose families
perished in the attack wore t-shirts that read “Putin is the executioner of Beslan.” They were then
surrounded by fifty police officers and arrested.
They were taken to district court where the women were tried under two articles of the
administrative code and were found guilty.
When I was preparing this play for print, I found that the records of these rulings were removed
from the court repository. All that remains of them are the papers in the woman’s hands, the
audio recording of the trial, my memories, and my shame. I was also in that courtroom.
The person who transcribed the audio recording of the trial was very accurate. But he made a
mistake. In the transcript, the judge, police, and witnesses say the school is located on Bessonov
street. There is no such street in Beslan. School No. 1 is located on Kominterna street. In 2012,
the street was renamed “Heroes of the CSN” after the special forces unit that stormed the school.
After some reflection, I decided to keep it that way. Bessonov Street.
1.
Judge. Write here… Defense attorney: I don’t need one. So, you are charged with the fact that on
January 9th, 2009, at the former school No. 1, you took part in a public event wearing a T-shirt
with the inscription: “Putin is an executioner,” and shouted at police officers: “You are
murderers:. How do you plead?
Emma. Not guilty.
Judge. Alright then. Let’s review the case files. We have Kaziyev’s report, which you’ve seen,
and Pliyev’s report, from which we understand that the citizens Tagayeva and Tsirikhova,
wearing “Putin is an executioner” T-shirts, shouted into the crowd slogans such as “You are the
murderers of our children.” The police were then summoned to stop the unlawful actions and the
women resisted arrest, refusing to cooperate with the officers trying to lead them to the car.
There are Letters from the head of the administration of the Pravoberezhny District and the head
of the local government that claim the protestors had not obtained the proper permission to hold
public events. This is a chart in which it is clear that… where are you in the chart here?
Emma. I don’t know.
Judge. Please look at these pictures.
Emma. We were captured and detained for hours. We were hungry, cold, and were treated like
hostages. What were we supposed to do? No one has been punished, what are we supposed to
do? They put us in the cafeteria, they’ll shoot us there…
Judge. Hold on, now on the merits of the charge….
Emma. I stood by my kid like I always have. 12 years I’ve been coming, and I’ll keep coming.
I’ll keep coming even if there’s a hundred cases.
Judge. How many of you were in the group?
Emma. A lot. Which group?
Judge. I mean, how many people are wearing T-shirts?
Emma. I don’t know, I was on my own, I’m responsible for myself.
Judge. Alright. Is that all?
Emma. Yes.
2. CHORUS
Emma Tagaeva
Her husband Ruslan was shot on the first day along with the rest of the men.
Her sons Alan and Aslan witnessed their father’s murder.
They were able to crawl into the next room where the bodies were lying,
and sat over their father’s corpse for 24 hours. They lived for two more days.
Aslan burned to death in the school.
Alan ran to the garages, crouched there and crawled away.
Fleeing children jumped over him.
Their eyes met, and that’s why they remembered Alan.
He was killed in the crossfire.
Emma examined her son’s body herself.
She says the body was clean, with
just two small wounds in the knee and stomach.
The death certificate for 10th grader Alan
who died in an alleyway between garages says 60% of his body was burned,
and that he was killed in an explosion.
3.
Emma. I plead not guilty. I have a little kid who needs shots. I have to give him an injection at 2
o’clock.
Lawyer. Should I call someone?
Emma. No. There’s no one to do it. He’s still a baby. I don’t want him to be without his mother.
It’s stressful. It’s stressful for an elderly grandmother.
It’s not my fault. And I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to have to ask permission to do that. I’m
not going to ask anyone in this place for permission to stand up.
Let them do whatever they want, let them judge.
No one was tried for the terrorist attack, so let me be tried.
No one was tried for the terrorist attack, so let me be tried.
4.
Zhanna Tsirikhova
She was a hostage along with her two daughters: 12-year-old Zarina and 8-year-old Lisa.
Zarina was in fifth grade, Lisa in second grade.
Lisa was almost deaf from birth, so she wasn’t frightened by the explosion.
She promised to tell her father about the terrorists so he could punish them.
Before the explosion, Zhanna heard a hissing sound, then something flew from the corner, then a
white flash.
She crawled out of a pile of corpses. She found Zarina.
Zarina said: “Mom, “my back is burning.” Zhanna covered her with a piece of plywood.
Then she found Lisa. With her hands she felt the hole in her head.
A terrorist said: Leave her.
She’s dead. But Zhanna saw Lisa standing in the fire, alive.
Zhanna rushed to her and screamed: “Daughter, how could I have left you?”
Lisa didn’t answer her, and Zhanna remembered that she had taken off her hearing aid.
Zhanna saw that Lisa had one eye missing. Then they jumped out the window and escaped.
Zhanna thought she was saving her daughter, but in reality it was a 7-year old girl named Amina
Kachmazova. Amina is now 19.
8-year-old Elizaveta Tsirikhova did not survive.
Zhanna recognized her daughter only by her teeth, hair, and shreds of clothing stuck to her body.
5.
Zhanna. They took me to another room with the judge.
When I asked for a lawyer, he just left.
No, he came in without a lawyer and left again.
And then they wrote in the report that I shouted things like: “You’re murderers!”
We were just standing there. It is written in the report that I shouted: “You are
murderers.”
I did no such thing.
Lawyer. You just stood there silently?
Zhanna. No, we only spoke when we were harassed. They would get in our faces, yell at us,
they would shame us. Of course we didn’t say those things to them.
I resisted getting in the car because I felt endangered.
Lawyer. Were you aggressive?
Zhanna. I didn’t want to get in the car. Then, when they forcibly pushed us all in, I stayed
behind.
Lawyer. No one pushed you in. The car pulled up, and you resisted arrest.
Zemfira Tsirikhova
( She did not participate in the action, but was convicted for “being around” and “making
statements”).
Her sister was held hostage together with her two sons: 10-year-old Amiran and 8-year-old
Amishan.
She says that she slyly hid a box of chocolates for the children around her.
Little Ashan would ask for more and more, but she divided the candy among them all. Then,
when the candy was finished, she fed the children flower leaves.
Ashan was killed in the second explosion.
A rocket-propelled grenade was fired from the roof of building 41. He died in her arms.
Judge. We’ve come to a resolution. Tsirihova took part in the holding of a public event without
permission, participated in a public protest by putting a T-shirt on herself with the inscription
“Putin is the executioner of Beslan”, and shouting insults at officers.
Tsirikhova pleaded not guilty, claiming that she did not, in fact, shout slogans and distribute
leaflets. Despite this, her guilt is confirmed by the reports of the other offenses, which confirm
the place, time, and circumstances of her crimes. A report from the deputy chief of the district
places Tsirikhova at the protest, and photographs show her wearing clothes with the message
“Putin is the executioner of Beslan.” She was using means of visual agitation to publicly express
her opinion, disturbing public order and safety.
On the basis of all the evidence presented, the court finds Tsirikhova Zhanna Petrovna, guilty of
committing an offense prohibited under article 20.2 part 2. Her punishment will be in the form of
a fine for 20,000 rubles. Do you understand?
Zhanna. Yeah, yeah, we’re all guilty. This state is guilty.
In short, yes. They’re in the courthouse. They won’t let anyone out of the building. Emma has a
four-year-old son who’s sick right now. He needs antibiotic shots twice
twice a day. And they won’t let her in.
Zhanna. They know who’s responsible. They know exactly who’s responsible.
They know who’s responsible, they know exactly who’s responsible.
They know who’s responsible, they know exactly who’s responsible.
6.
Emma. Well, what does it say? It says something else. I don’t remember us saying that.
Murderers? I never said such a thing.
I don’t see what the article is. Where is it written?
“Tagaeva resisted lawful arrest, in the form of refusing to travel with police officers for further
investigation of an unlawful act.”
Police officer. Obstruction.
Emma. Let them produce the evidence where I said you were murderers.
They don’t want it? They will be their own proof. Their word is law.
They don’t need it? They will be their own proof. Their word is law.
They don’t need it? They will be their own proof. Their word is law.
7.
Svetlana Magrieva
She was a hostage along with her 12-year-old daughter, Elvira. They were together all three
days. Before the attack, Elvira said that she couldn’t sit any longer and that she was short of
breath. Svetlana asked her not to get up, but she did anyway. Then, a ball of fire flew through the
window. When Svetlana came to her senses, the air was hot and the ceiling was burning. Her
daughter lay dead in her arms, mouth agape and with a gash on the right side of her forehead.
Her hair was red as if smeared with paint. As ashes fell from the ceiling, Svetlana remembers her
daughter’s eyes turning completely black and matte. With broken legs, Svetlana crawled out
through the smoke. She blames herself for not being able to get her daughter’s body out of the
fire. Every night she asks Elvira to come to her in her dreams, but she never does.
Svetlana. I’m on hunger strike. I want to go on hunger strike.
Replica. Everyone’s eating, and you’re on hunger strike.
Replica. Svetlana, can we talk?
Replica. No, 19.3, part one. Yes, 19.3, part one.
Replica. It’s not like she pleaded not guilty.
Replica. Sveta, you’re only hurting yourself. Don’t you understand?
Svetlana. They just want to scare us into not doing anything.
Judge. Please take your seats. We’re about to begin the trial.
8.
Judge. I will now read you your rights. Stand up, please. I’m going to explain to you the rules of
procedure for this courtroom and everyone else here.
Order is required in the courtroom.
All explanations to the court must be authorized by the court.
Address the court with the words: “Honorable court.”
Violations of the rules of the courtroom will be met with appropriate action, including removal
from the courtroom.
Does the defendant understand her rights?
Emma. Yes.
Judge. You will now give your explanation to the court.
Emma. About?
Judge. The circumstances of the cases. An administrative case has been opened under part one
of Article 19.3 for failure to comply with the lawful demands of police officers. Is there anything
that you wish to make known to the court?
Emma. Yes.
Judge. Good. Do you wish to give an oral or written explanation?
Emma. Oral.
Judge. You’ve already been assigned an attorney. Please come forward and sign here that you’ve
been advised of your rights. Do you have any objections, counselor?
Counselor. No.
Judge. Sign here, please. The court is now in session. Does the defendant have any questions?
Emma. No. We do not.
Judge. Are there any questions before the trial begins?
Alright, let us proceed. The record of the administrative offense was drawn up on September 1,
2016 in the city of Beslan by the senior inspector of the EAZ of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
in the Pravoberezhny district. Your birthday is February 4, 1962, you are unemployed, and you
have a four-year-old child. Is this correct?
Emma. Yes.
Judge. What is your level of education?
Emma. Secondary.
Judge. The report states the following.
On September 1, 2016 at 12:00 a.m. Tagayeva
Disobeyed the lawful order of a police officer on the territory of the former school No. 1
of the city of Beslan at 99 Bessonova Street, which was expressed in the refusal to go with the
police officers for further investigation of the illegal public action which is unlawful under
Article 19.3 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation.
She refused to give explanations on this matter and witnesses recorded everything.
Tagayeva, do you understand the nature of the offense?
Emma. Yes.
Judge. Do you still plead not guilty?
Emma. Yes
Judge. And can you explain for what reason you think you are not guilty?
Emma. All I have done is stand outside a school with a placard and a T-shirt. I only expressed
my civil rights When they went outside they were surrounded by–
Judge. And you were among them?
Emma. Yes. There were a lot of people, some of them dispersed. The only ones left were
the ones who were brought in.
Judge. Do you remember any of these people?
Emma. I don’t remember any names. We were surrounded by 50 people, and we just wanted to
go home.
Judge. Were you surrounded near the school?
Emma. We’d already left. We were about five meters away from the gate when we were
surrounded by fifty men. We told them to let us go home.
Judge. Were they police officers?
Emma. There were a lot of them. Some were civilians, some were uniformed police. They got in
a circle and held hands to keep us from leaving. I told them that I had to leave to give my child
an injection at 2 o’clock. Dulayev, the chief, told me that we were going to the police station
anyway. I didn’t think that such a thing could happen, that the authorities would allow such a
thing to happen.
They forced people into cars, and I was the last one left.
I told them to let us go home. They forced us, you’ll see.
In fact, we have doctors that documented the bruises and blows that were inflicted on these
women.
Judge. Tagayeva, tell me, please, did the police officers make any demands to you to go to the
building of the Pravoberezhny District Department of Internal Affairs?
Emma. Yes, they pointed to the car, and they demanded that we get in.
Judge. Why did you not comply with that demand voluntarily?
Emma. Because I didn’t think it was necessary to be treated like a criminal for expressing my
opinion. They didn’t feel the need to protect the children in the school but they spared no
expense arresting us. Apparently a person doesn’t have the right to express their opinion
anymore. That’s one place where I didn’t feel I should be sanctioned. I was at the school all the
time. My children died there, my family. It was the most precious thing I had on this earth.
Judge. Your arguments are clear.
If you have nothing further to add, you may be seated.
Judge. The case against Tagaeva will now be examined.
9.
Witness 1. (Filippov) Deputy Head of the OUP of the Pravoberezhny District
Filippov on September 1, 2016 responsible for the protection of public order, showed that
Kesaeva, Margieva, Bzarova, Tagaeva, Tsirikhova, were dressed in white T-shirts with the
inscription “Putin is the executioner of Beslan” and shouted slogans like “You are the murderer
of our children!”. When ordered to stop, they behaved aggressively.
I then called a detachment of SOBR of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. When the officers
ordered them to leave the premises, they refused to answer. I gave an order to take them to the
police station to initiate proceedings. While escorting them to the car, the offenders resisted,
throwing themselves at the police and refusing to get in the vehicle.
As a result, physical force had to be used.
10. INSERT: “ANTIGONE”, SOPHOCLES
Antigone’s dialog with King Creonte. He reproaches her for having buried her
brother:
– Have you transgressed the decree?
– Yes, for it is not from Zeus, nor from eternal Truth: if you wish to execute, your will
and the truth is mine.
– Do you go against your fellow citizens?
– They are with me, but they fear thee.
11. Judge. A similar police report on the Pravoberezhny District of Kaziev, police chief
Dulayev. Similar report of the police report of the BCPBS on the Pravoberezhnyaya Berezova, to
police chief Dulaev.
12. CHORUS
Emilia Bzarova
Her whole family was at the school: two sons, her husband, and her mother-in-law. The
explosion scattered them in different directions. 12-year-old Zaur was thrown through the
window by his father and his grandmother managed to escape on her own. 9 year old Aslan was
severely wounded and suffocating in the smoke. He stayed in the school and burned. “He had a
shrapnel wound in his back, in his neck, in his head. He was dead. Or half-dead,” her husband
Kazbek said. Aslan’s body was number 299, identified only through genetic testing. Emilia and
Kazbek have since separated.
13.
Judge. You’ve made a motion that you need a defense attorney, and you don’t have one?
Emilia Bzarova. Yes.
Judge. You have been accused of committing an administrative offense, provided for by part 1
of article 19.3 of the Code of the Russian Federation “On Administrative Offenses”. In this court
she has petitioned for an attorney but did not provide any defense counsel. Please have a seat.
Bzarova, this attorney has been appointed for you.
Do you object?
Bzarova. I do object. I wasn’t allowed to prepare.
I object, but what can I do?!
Judge. I don’t understand your objection.
Bzarova. I don’t have my own defense counsel whom I would trust.
Judge. You said you have no defense counsel.
Bzarova. Not yet, because I haven’t been given enough time.
Judge. Come on, how much time do you need?
Bzarova. I don’t know how much time I need. A month, probably.
Judge. Well, we don’t have a month. Are you refusing the services of a defense counsel?
Bzarova. No, I don’t refuse, but I can’t say that I trust him.
Judge. Why not?
Bzarova. Because I don’t know him.
Judge. Bzarova Emilia Dombulatovna. Once again,
the court asks you: are you refusing your court-appointed defense counsel?
Bzarova. No, I’m not refusing.
Judge. You don’t refuse? Very well.
Counselor. How are you feeling?
Emma. I’m fine. My baby has a fever. I had to give him
an antibiotic at two o’clock.
Counselor. Is anyone there at home?
Emma. No, I’m on my own.
Counselor. Is dad there?
Bzarova. Look, you can’t even say what you think. They still don’t dare
things. But he, you know.
Wife. Is there a bathroom here?
Husband. On the first floor.
Wife. I won’t have time, will I?…
14.
Witness 2. Explanation of the witness Ktsoyeva Alena Mairbekovna September 1st, 2016. I live
at the address Beslan, ul. Dzarasova 58. Today at about 12:00 I was at the former school number
1 located at Bessonova 99. I then saw a group of women come to the school with T-shirts that
read “Putin is the executioner of Beslan.” Then police officers approached these women and
pointed out to them that their actions constituted a violation of the administrative order under
Article 19.3, after which they were asked to go to the Levoberezhyu district police station in Left
Bank. A woman approached the police officers and obstructed them from performing their
duties. They resisted arrest and were taken to the ROVD.
15. CHORUS
Ella Kesaeva
Emma Tagaeva’s sister.
A month before the attack, she had a dream every night of armed men walking under her
window. She was leading her family away through the vegetable gardens. Her house
is across the street from the school. On September 1st, she heard gunshots and saw armed men.
She ran out to the highway then to the town hall. She tried to draw a map of the school for the
F.S.B. to help them disarm the terrorists. Her 13-year-old daughter Zarina,
her two nephews Alan and Aslan, and her sister’s husband Ruslan were at the school. Zarina was
injured but managed to escape. Alan, Aslan and Ruslan were killed.
16.
Witness 3. Testimony of Gusalov Chermen Elbrusovich. September 1, 2016.
I live at the address of Beslan, Dhibilova Street 58. Today at about 11:30 I was on the property
of the former school No. 1 in Beslan. There I saw memorial services for the events of September
1st. I saw six women in the gymnasium, with T-shirts that said “Putin is the executioner of
Beslan”. After that, police officers approached them and asked them to stop acting provocatively,
or leave the premises of the school. The women ignored the orders and stayed in the gym. They
then aggressively resisted arrest and officers forcibly took them to the police station.
17.
Judge. Next I have it written that Tagayeva and Bzarova refused to give
an explanation to the police. I have a sample signature from the passport office with passport
data on Tagayeva and Bzarova. The case materials have been examined. Are there any additions
to the case file?
Emma. May I?
Judge. Yes.
Emma. You’ve certainly tried very hard, you’ve been writing for a very long time. It took you
five hours to write all that. The number of T-shirts, signed T-shirts.
I didn’t shout “murderer” at anyone, because I think I’m the murderer of my children.
And I did not shout anything rude at the police, I would never do that. But I had threatening
people all around me, and they got in the way.
They stood in front of me, and I asked them to step back. I said “Step back, don’t stand in front
of me.” I just asked them to step back. I didn’t make a scene. I was standing next to a picture
of my children. I didn’t insult anyone. And on this day, I’m being tried for wearing a T-shirt. The
way I see it, Putin is the executioner of Beslan. Because of him, hundreds of children died. That’s
what I blame him for.
That’s my opinion and I’m entitled to it.
Judge. I see.
Emma. The mothers’ children died in their arms. They’ve been beaten and bruised. How
could this happen?
The mothers’ children died in their arms. They’ve been beaten and bruised. How could this
happen?
The mothers’ children died in their arms. They’ve been beaten and bruised. How could this
happen?
Judge. I see. Defense counsel, anything to add?
Counselor. Nothing to add.
Judge. I see. The court will recess for ruling.
18. WOMEN TO EACH OTHER
– Gotta get up.
– Emma, who’s got bruises?
– Sveta. On her back
– Her back?
– She started vomiting.
– She threw up where, here?
– Uh, yeah.
– I was sick.
– I have another article.
– Can I see it?
– Article 20.2.
– “Particularly dangerous criminals.”
– Sounds badass.
– So Sveta got hit on the back and threw up?
– Yeah. Eight people grabbed her.
– Zhanna has big bruises.
– You should do it right now. They wouldn’t even let us make a call. I went out to call someone
and they grabbed me from behind.
– I was pushed. I was grabbed by my sleeve and I was pushed.
– And I saw Sveta, they hit her on her vertebrae, on her back.
– They said I was resisting, shouting.
– I have extenuating circumstances.
-That’s a lot. Under this article, it’s the most lenient sanction. 20,000 to 30,000.
That’s how big the fine is.
– Look at the next one. First a fine, then
then compulsory labor, then arrest up to 10 days.
– He’ll put me on compulsory labor at his discretion.
– The police probably have nothing better to do.
– Take compulsory labor, Ella, Emilia.
– Let’s take forced labor.
– I’m surprised at the witnesses.
– These are police officers.
– And the others have fought enough already. They are under orders.
– If you don’t want to work, don’t work.
– And if you don’t work, how we live, no salary, nothing.
– They’ll do what they want with them.
– They’ve driven people to a dead end.
– I dreamt that dogs were attacking me all night long.
– Me too.
– I went on hunger strike at the police station.
– We stood silently, we didn’t shout anything. We just stood there.
– I’m already working like Father Carlo, now I’m doing correctional labor.
– At a salary of 6,000-20,000.
– And I’ll say right away that I chose to sit.
– Forced labor.
– If there were 100 or 200 people, this wouldn’t be happening now.
– We can’t even go to school.
– I’ve suffered so much that I’m just mildly offended now.
– Put me in jail if you want. I’m not guilty of anything.
– He hasn’t read the judgment yet. When do they read the verdict?
– It’s easier to do 15 days.
– 20,000, that’s fine.
– We should apply for forced labor right away.
– It’s still up to the judge to decide. Even though I didn’t do anything.
I’m asking you to give me forced labor.
19.
Zhanna. We’ve had a lot of run-ins with this judge. He complained to us that he was beaten up. I
don’t admit my guilt. I also told those who prevented me from standing there that they had no
right to touch me on that day, and I have the right to stand where I want.
It’s a shame for everyone, it makes me sick to my stomach to see how much power the
authorities have started to allow themselves.
20.
They spent four hours in police custody.
The detention was very harsh.
They detained them five meters out of the school grounds.
The law enforcers took them in a ring, blocked them, brought a car, and started shoving them in.
They have bruises. There’s another woman, Svetlana, who was hit on the back. At the trial, the
judge said that according to the officers’ reports, they used physical force.
21.
Svetlana. I’m on hunger strike. I’m on hunger strike. I want to go on a hunger strike.
Replica. Everyone’s eating, and you’re on hunger strike.
Replica. Svetlana, may I see you?
Replica. Sveta, you’re only hurting yourself. Do you understand?
Svetlana. How is it possible for such a huge tragedy to happen, how?
22.
It would be a relief to know that the guilty are punished.
Those who were at fault have long since passed on and now it’s us, as it turns out, who are at
fault. So now we can’t go to school, we can’t go to the cemetery, we can’t go anywhere.
If they’re so righteous, if they’re not guilty of anything, why do they oppress us like this?
They took me away from the site of the terrorist attack, where my whole family died, in a police
car. I didn’t think I had to ask to stand up. That’s where I lost the most precious thing I had on
this earth.
The mothers’ children died in their arms. They’ve been beaten and bruised. How could this
happen?
23.
Three of them were sentenced under Article 19.3 and fined 500 rubles each.
Judge. The court ruling will now be read out in the city of Beslan on September 1, 2016.
The investigation concluded that Emma Tagayeva was disobedient to a lawful request of a police
officer under the following circumstances. On September 1, 2016 at 12:00 a.m. she refused to
to comply with the lawful demands of a police officer to go with him to the police department of
the Pravoberezhny district to investigate the unlawful public action. Tagayeva did not admit guilt
and explained that on September 1, she came to the former school number 1 to attend a memorial
service held for the victims of the attack. In her opinion, the President of the Russian Federation
is to blame for this tragedy.
24. CHORUS AND CORYPHAEUS ON THE MODES OF RETRIBUTION IN
SOPHOCLES.
In the finale of Antigone, after the death of the heroine, the gods take away everyone the cruel
King Creonte loves.
Chorus. Creonte returns from the field, carrying the body of Haemon.
Creonte. Where are you, muddy harbor of Hell! Rest me with quick death!
Chorus and coryphaeus. And in this gloom that is over the land,
Thy design is guilty, my lord.
The hearths and the holy altars
are tainted with the contagion of the dead.
Creonte. What an abyss of woe I see!
Death looks upon me from everywhere.
Chorus and coryphaeus. The sign of wretchedness is a proud disposition.
Creonte. The horror of my heart. Which of you, friends,
will thrust a sharpened sword into my breast?
Chorus and coryphaeus. No, give way to the dead; who would stab a man lying down?
Creonte. O wretched me! Oh, day of wretchedness!
I’ve grown a fierce grief in my soul.
Chorus and coryphaeus. What valor is it to grant a dead man a second death?
Creonte. Take me away to the wilderness.
I’ve been lifted up, I’m nothing now.
Chorus and coryphaeus. And now, obedient to hell and the gods, the Eryniums’ hosts are laying
down a net of merciless vengeance
Creonte. A terrible weight, unbearable.
The doom has fallen upon my head.
Chorus and coryphaeus. – And thou shalt fall into it,
Equal to the punishments and wrongs of the cup.
25.
Judge. According to the defendant Emma Tagayeva, the President of the Russian Federation is
to blame for this tragedy.
To express her opinion, she wore a shirt with the words “Putin – Executioner of Beslan.” at the
former School No. 1. At this time, she and other participants were surrounded by people in law
enforcement uniforms, as well as people in civilian clothes.
They were also approached by the head of the police department of the Pravoberezhny District,
Mr. Dulayev. Mr. Dulayev demanded that they get into the car and proceed to the police station.
She refused to comply with these demands, as she did not consider herself guilty of anything.
She, as well as other protesters, were forcibly put into cars and taken to the police station.
Tagaeva’s guilt under part 1 of article 19.3 is confirmed by the following evidence.
The testimony of Tagaeva, confirms that she refused to comply with the demands of the police
officers to go to the police station for further investigation. The report is listed under
administrative offense number 237382 dated September 1, 2016, which confirms the place, time
and circumstances of the committed offense. According to the report of the deputy head of the
ROVD of the Pravoberezhny district, on September 1, 2016, at about 11 o’clock in the course of
protection of public order during the mourning events on the territory of the
former school No. 1 of Beslan city, Ella Kesaeva, Zhanna Tsirikhova, Svetlana Margieva, Emilia
Bzarova, Emma Tagayeva, and Zemfira Tsirikhova dressed in white T-shirts with the inscription:
“Putin is the executioner of Beslan” and shouted at the crowd: “You are killers of our children!”
and so on.
26.
Emma.
It’s such a shame; it makes my soul sink with fear at how much power the authorities have.
It’s such a shame; it makes my soul sink with fear at how much power the authorities have.
It’s such a shame; it makes my soul sink with fear at how much power the authorities have.
It’s such a shame; it makes my soul sink with fear at how much power the authorities have.
It’s such a shame; it makes my soul sink with fear at how much power the authorities have.
27.
Judge. They ignored the police’s request to stop their unlawful actions. They resisted,
behaved aggressively, and attacked the police officers.
As a result, physical force had to be used against them.
The court recognizes Tagaeva’s continued unlawful behavior and failure to comply with the
request of authorized persons to stop the rally. As a result, Emma Tagaeva will receive
punishment in the form of an administrative fine.
The court recognizes Tsirikhova’s continued unlawful behavior and failure to comply with the
request of authorized persons to stop the rally. As a result, an administrative fine will be issued
to Tsirikhova.
The court recognizes Kesaeva’s continued unlawful behavior and failure to comply with the
request of authorized persons to stop the rally.
As a result, Kesaeva will be issued community service for 20 hours because she is unable to pay
the fine.
The court recognizes the offenses of Svetlana Margiyeva and as a result, she will be assigned 20
hours of community service as she cannot pay the fine.
The court recognizes Emilia Bzarova’s unlawful behavior, and she will also be assigned 20 hours
of community service because she can’t afford to pay the fine.
This ruling may be appealed within 10 days to the Judicial Collegium at the address Beslan,
State square.
The ruling and the rules of appeal have been explained. Emma Tagaeva, do you need
clarification?
Emma. I understand, I have some comments.
Judge. Save the comments for your appeal please. I’ve just explained everything to you. This
court is adjourned.
Please, if you disagree, you can appeal. I’ve explained
explained to you.
You will receive the ruling. This court is adjourned.
Chorus and coryphaeus.
– Did you notice that the time was altered?
– Corrected, yes.
– You have to go through the treasury.
– 500 rubles will be spent among each of them.
– The first trial.
– Will there be a second? Oh lord.
28. THERE WILL BE NO RETRIBUTION.