Russian officials accuse opposition of exploiting shopping centre fire
Andrew Roth, The Guardian,
28 Mar 2018
Thousands
of people held an unsanctioned vigil in Kemerovo where the fire killed 64
people
of people held an unsanctioned vigil in Kemerovo where the fire killed 64
people
 |
| Russian officials said the unsanctioned vigil in Kemerovo was a planned demonstration aimed at discrediting the government. Photograph: Sergei Gavrilenko/AP |
Several
Russian officials and pro-Kremlin commentators have accused the country’s
opposition of trying to take advantage of a blaze at a
shopping centre that killed dozens of people, most of them children.
Russian officials and pro-Kremlin commentators have accused the country’s
opposition of trying to take advantage of a blaze at a
shopping centre that killed dozens of people, most of them children.
The
remarks came after thousands of people held an unsanctioned vigil in the
Siberian city of Kemerovo, where Sunday’s fire killed 64, with many expressing
anger over the government’s response to the tragedy.
remarks came after thousands of people held an unsanctioned vigil in the
Siberian city of Kemerovo, where Sunday’s fire killed 64, with many expressing
anger over the government’s response to the tragedy.
“We have
come to the conclusion that this was a clear, planned demonstration aimed at
discrediting the government,” said Vladimir Chernov, a vice-governor of
Kemerovo region, without offering any evidence for his claim. “Very many [of
the demonstrators] were stoked up young people … people attended without
understanding what they were doing there.”
come to the conclusion that this was a clear, planned demonstration aimed at
discrediting the government,” said Vladimir Chernov, a vice-governor of
Kemerovo region, without offering any evidence for his claim. “Very many [of
the demonstrators] were stoked up young people … people attended without
understanding what they were doing there.”
Vladimir Putin
arrived in Kemerovo on Tuesday to find anger at officials’ handling of the
tragedy. Thousands of residents congregated in a central square in a rare
public demonstration with some calling for the Russian president to come to
address them, or for the resignation of the local government. Riot police were
deployed around the local administration building.
arrived in Kemerovo on Tuesday to find anger at officials’ handling of the
tragedy. Thousands of residents congregated in a central square in a rare
public demonstration with some calling for the Russian president to come to
address them, or for the resignation of the local government. Riot police were
deployed around the local administration building.
On
Wednesday a nationwide day of mourning was held for victims of the fire – the
country’s deadliest since a blaze at a nightclub in 2009 that killed 156 – and
the first funerals took place in Kemerovo. Among the first people buried were a
grandmother and her two grandchildren – aged eight and 10 – who died in a
locked cinema on the shopping centre’s top floor while watching cartoons. They
were all buried in the same grave.
Wednesday a nationwide day of mourning was held for victims of the fire – the
country’s deadliest since a blaze at a nightclub in 2009 that killed 156 – and
the first funerals took place in Kemerovo. Among the first people buried were a
grandmother and her two grandchildren – aged eight and 10 – who died in a
locked cinema on the shopping centre’s top floor while watching cartoons. They
were all buried in the same grave.
Moscow
and St Petersburg also held unsanctioned vigils on Tuesday evening, attended by
thousands. Earlier, the longtime governor of the region told Putin that his
main task was to prevent unrest over the government’s handling of the fire.
and St Petersburg also held unsanctioned vigils on Tuesday evening, attended by
thousands. Earlier, the longtime governor of the region told Putin that his
main task was to prevent unrest over the government’s handling of the fire.
The tragedy
has led to a tacit tug-of-war between government and public initiatives. The
mayor’s office hastily arranged a 5pm vigil by the Kremlin in Moscow after
activists called mourners out to attend a 7pm memorial nearby.
has led to a tacit tug-of-war between government and public initiatives. The
mayor’s office hastily arranged a 5pm vigil by the Kremlin in Moscow after
activists called mourners out to attend a 7pm memorial nearby.
Five
people have been detained by investigators who said fire alarms at the mall
were shut off and emergency exits locked. A Russian court on Wednesday arrested
the manager of the shopping centre for two months. But it is unclear whether
any regional officials will also be investigated.
people have been detained by investigators who said fire alarms at the mall
were shut off and emergency exits locked. A Russian court on Wednesday arrested
the manager of the shopping centre for two months. But it is unclear whether
any regional officials will also be investigated.
In
Kemerovo, several heated confrontations between locals and officials laid bare
heightened tensions over the tragedy and a public distrust in information
released by the government about the fire.
Kemerovo, several heated confrontations between locals and officials laid bare
heightened tensions over the tragedy and a public distrust in information
released by the government about the fire.
In one
encounter, Sergey Tsivilyev, a vice-governor for the region, accused a
protester of “making PR of the tragedy”. The protester, Igor Vostrikov,
responded by saying he had lost three young children, his wife and sister, all
of whom were trapped in the cinema.
encounter, Sergey Tsivilyev, a vice-governor for the region, accused a
protester of “making PR of the tragedy”. The protester, Igor Vostrikov,
responded by saying he had lost three young children, his wife and sister, all
of whom were trapped in the cinema.
Members
of a “citizen’s action group” who met Putin said they believed hundreds had
been killed in the fire, although the official death toll remained at 64.
of a “citizen’s action group” who met Putin said they believed hundreds had
been killed in the fire, although the official death toll remained at 64.
Yelena
Mizulina, a pro-Kremlin MP who helped introduce socially conservative
legislation such as the country’s ban on gay propaganda, said she wanted to
speak in support of Putin on a national TV programme on Tuesday evening.
Mizulina, a pro-Kremlin MP who helped introduce socially conservative
legislation such as the country’s ban on gay propaganda, said she wanted to
speak in support of Putin on a national TV programme on Tuesday evening.
“It’s a
stab in the back, it’s a terrible shock,” said Mizulina. “What he’s doing today
for Russia are incredible things, defending Russia in the
international arena, carrying through reforms of unbelievable power
internally.”
stab in the back, it’s a terrible shock,” said Mizulina. “What he’s doing today
for Russia are incredible things, defending Russia in the
international arena, carrying through reforms of unbelievable power
internally.”
Vladimir
Solovyov, one of the country’s most watched television hosts, said during the
same programme that “when the crowd demands blood and doesn’t care about facts
… Then that’s already not a government. It’s an attempt to hold a Maidan!
That can’t be allowed.”
Solovyov, one of the country’s most watched television hosts, said during the
same programme that “when the crowd demands blood and doesn’t care about facts
… Then that’s already not a government. It’s an attempt to hold a Maidan!
That can’t be allowed.”
Maidan is
a reference to the 2013-2014 protests in Ukraine that ousted the former
president Viktor Yanukovych. The Kremlin has accused the west of fomenting the
country’s revolution.
a reference to the 2013-2014 protests in Ukraine that ousted the former
president Viktor Yanukovych. The Kremlin has accused the west of fomenting the
country’s revolution.
