1 Response to Terrorism during the Putin Presidency Anna Weisfeiler Harvard University 68 th Midwest Political Science Association National Conference April 23, 2009 Chicago, IL

 Has the development of Russian national security policy, vis-à-vis terrorism, been influenced by major terrorists attacks  Has the Russian response to hostage situations evolved over time, or has it been variations on the same response? ◦ Policy level ◦ Tactical level

 Moscow Dubrovka Theater Crisis (Oct 2002) ◦ (This case is sometimes also known as Nord-Ost)  Beslan School Crisis (Sept 2004)

 10/23: 50 armed men & women storm a Moscow theater during a performance of Nord-Ost people are inside the theater.  10/24-25 Unsuccessful negotiations led by various prominent Russian figures  10/26 Early morning raid led by Russian Federal Forces ends crisis, all hostage-takers are killed, 129 hostages die of complications.

Demands: 1. Immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Russian forces from Chechnya (within a week) 2. Immediate termination of use of artillery and the Air Force in Chechnya 3. The halt of all zachistki (mop-up) operations 4. Putin publicly declare that he was striving to stop the war in Chechnya

 Initial reports came from inside the theater  10/24: offered the hostage-takers safe- passage to any third country  10/25: FBS offered to spare the lives of the hostage-takers if all hostages are released  10/26: Early morning raid ◦ All hostage-takers killed ◦ no antidote is provided (Gas unknown) ◦ victims were taken to undisclosed locations(hospitals)

 Ministry of Interior began investigation (arrests)  Putin expresses rhetoric similar to Bush  Chechnya troop reduction canceled; launch of large- scale operation against separatists (Nov)  Moscow’s City Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation (closed in June 2007)  Legislation: ◦ Restrictions on covering Terrorism – de facto censorship ◦ Amendments to 1998’s “On Combating Terrorism”  Allows for secret burial of slain terrorists

 Putin cancels travel but does not engage in actual direct negotiations  Innovative ideas for peaceful end of crisis ◦ Travel to third country ◦ Spare lives of hostage-takers  Lack of distinction between foreign and domestic hostages  New raid style – differs greatly from Budyonnovsk(1995) response

 Insufficient preparation for consequences of raid  All hostage-takers killed  Putin’s approval ratings rise  Engagement rises in Chechnya, similar to 1999  Amendments to terrorism law but not a brand new law

 9/1: 30 gunmen stormed the Beslan school, taking over 1,000 people hostage ◦ Hostage-takers prepared for gas response ◦ Weapon caches are already inside the school ◦ Automatic bomb detonation  9/2: small skirmishes, King of Jordan expresses concern while visiting Moscow  9/3: Bomb explosion leads to Federal forces storming the school, 330 killed, wounded

Demands: 1. Withdrawal of Russian forces from Chechnya 2. To speak directly with high-ranking officials in the Russian government 3. Release of 24 militants arrested earlier in the summer

 Two to four different headquarters during the crisis ◦ Chain of command is unclear ◦ Lack of communication between various agencies  Lack of sufficient medical responders after the raid  Putin & other state that the country is under attack (reiterating US War on Terror themes)

 Putin calls for several reforms: ◦ election of federal governors by local legislative assemblies based upon recommendations from the President ◦ creation of a public chamber for dialogue, and addressed issues of living standards in the North Caucasus, ◦ creating the Special Federal Commission on the North Caucasus. ◦ introduction a system of proportional representation in state Duma elections

 Heighten security in Moscow ◦ Rounding up of undocumented residents in Moscow  Duma reviewed a number of new counterterrorism measures ◦ In 2006, new Russian Federal law “On Fighting Terrorism” which takes the much reformed 1998 law and adds a few new measures including duty reallocation  Three reports on what happened at Beslan: 1.Kesayev Report in 2005 (Duma report) 2.Savelyev Report in 2006 (explosives expert) 3.Torshin Report in 2006 (Deputy Federation Council)

 Continued ties to international struggle against terrorism  Lead to a great deal of reforms  Most investigated crisis of the various hostage crises on the Russian Federation

 Negligence and/or corruption lead to crisis  Increase chaos and confusion is leadership  Putin does not engage directly  Willing to use guns versus a gas  High loss of life  Few hostage-takers survive  Still unclear what triggered the explosion inside the school

 Use of force to resolve hostage crisis ◦ Attempts at different tactics ◦ Hostage-takers killed on-site  Tolerance for collateral damage/loss of life  Demands are never seriously considered  Crisis gave urgency to legal reform  International sympathy and part of the bigger “crisis” (fight against Al Qaeda)  Increase in approval ratings due to “strong” response

 Response seems to be a variation on the same thing (use of force)  Tactical: ◦ Increasing chaos and lack of coordination  Policy: ◦ Some counterterrorism reform has gone through natural progressions ◦ Most reforms are made urgent by the crisis  Leadership has support to for these reforms right after a crisis