Beslan tragedy

[Anonymous]

I guess this was one of the most awful terrorist attacks that took place in 2004. Attacking children and women on the first day of school is simply called madness, stupidity, and shows a lack of courage... and if you can't understand what I really mean, then think of Sharon during the Eggfest show ! [!--emo&--][img src=\'style_emoticons/[#EMO_DIR#]/tongue.gif\' border=\'0\' style=\'vertical-align:middle\' alt=\'tongue.gif\' /][!--endemo--]

 

[IronDuke]

[!--QuoteBegin-LooseCannon+Aug 31 2005, 06:04 PM--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE(LooseCannon @ Aug 31 2005, 06:04 PM)[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]Beslan was a horrid crisis, but may I add that the Chechens may not have been behind it.  I'm normally not a conspiracy theorist, but I want you guys to note that in Russia, at this time, there was a sensational trial going on, that is Russia v. Khodorkovsky, the richest man in Russia.

I do not know if he did or not, but I believe Putin had a hand in the Beslan crisis - either in orchestrating it or in having the military launch their ridiculous, ill-conceived assault, taking attention (especially international attention) away from the mock trial Khodorkovsky was being submitted to.

[snapback]117005[/snapback]​

[/quote]


Dude, no offense, but I'm going to call bullshit on that. Your poli-sci professor needs to stop smoking the good stuff before he comes to class.

Putin might be a bit power-happy (or so our media wants us to think), but no politician would do something like this when the entire world is watching. Someone would blab (probably sell the story to CNN or something for many many rubles), and then Pooty-poo would have a revolution on his hands. The risks are just too damn high, even for him.

I don't know about you, but I'd be scared shitless of a vengeful Russian mother - kinda like a momma bear when her cubs are in danger.

 

[The Saint]

I'm not sure Putin was behind it at all.

But even if he was, he would have wanted a clear and glorious intervention to heighten his international stature. Not what happened, which might only have attracted more ennemies than friends in the international community and press.

Cheers

 

[Anonymous]

This thread has been dead for almost 3 years, and the Beslan victims for almost 4. Still, some upsetting news came out recently of some sicko playing on people's irrational hopes to make money.

Prison is too kind for such a despicable character. If I got hold of him, I'd show about as much mercy as a Russian trooper storming the school of Beslan back in 2004... 

---

Jail sentence for Beslan 'healer'

A self-styled healer who claimed he could resurrect children killed in the Beslan school siege has been sentenced to 11 years in jail in Russia.

A Moscow court found Grigory Grabovoi guilty on several counts of obtaining money through fraudulent means.

Beslan residents were among those who accused Mr Grabovoi of accepting money for promising to bring back the dead or cure serious illnesses.

He denied all charges, saying he was a victim of religious persecution.

Nearly 200 children and 150 adults were killed when Russian forces stormed the school in Beslan in September 2004.

Security forces entered the building to force out Chechen rebels who had taken more than 1,000 people hostage.

Hierarchy of healers

Grabovoi was convicted on 11 counts of fraud by Moscow's Tagansky court, Russian media reported.

In its verdict, the court said Grabovoi "deceived" people, "guaranteeing" a happy outcome to those who turned to him after the death of a loved one or close relative, Interfax news agency reported.

His methods included the use of "psychological pressure" and amounted to the theft of property and ownership rights, the court's judge added.

The prosecution said Grabovoi established a pyramid-style hierarchy of trained "healers", each of whom pledged to spread his teachings around Russia, for a suitable fee.

Grabovoi himself received a fee of 10% of the profits made by regional organisations.

Each person who used Grabovoi's services paid almost 40,000 roubles ($1,700).

Defence lawyers said Grabovoi was not guilty, describing his work as "political, public, religious and research activities", Interfax reported.

They said there was no evidence to suggest that Grabovoi actually received any money for his services, Itar-Tass reported.

He will be sentenced at a later date.

Source: BBC News

 

[Warhurst]

Mav you are correct. Prison is way too kind for this one.

On the other hand. Your first post in this thread mentions something like if we make a thread for each disaster etc. We will soon be like cnn. Well if we dicuss all persons too despicable for words....... where will that lead us???

 

[Raven]

A self-styled healer...promising to...cure serious illnesses.

Still, it's always true that vultures and other carrion feeders gather in the aftermath of a disaster.  How people can make a living out of other people's suffering and sleep at night...

 

[Onhell]

Still, it's always true that vultures and other carrion feeders gather in the aftermath of a disaster.  How people can make a living out of other people's suffering and sleep at night...

Rasputin was able to heal the Czar's son on several occasions, whether that aided his bullshit or not is still up for debate, he is a polarizing figure and honestly in a different league from this nut.

Seriously, someone who eats a tray full of poisoned cookies, a couple of bottles of poisoned wine, gets shot 6 times and eventually dies of DROWNING (meaning that he was still alive when dumped in the river) is far from a charlatan....

That is going off topic though, it is a tragedy and yes, people will capitalize on people's weaknesses if given the chance.

 

[Natalie]

It's a very sad fact in reality that people like Grabovoi or Rasputin will try to derive a profit out of people's misery. But in a way, that's what alot of entrepreneurship is like. Well, not to be compared with this but its a similar idea.

 

[Acacia]

But in a way, that's what alot of entrepreneurship is like. Well, not to be compared with this but its a similar idea.

That sounds quite leftist... Seriously, I can't agree with that. There is, luckily occasionally even in Russia, and should be a line between crime and business. I think it's acceptable to make a living by offering a service as long as people are willing to pay for it. The problem is when you lie in order to get customers and breech contracts.

Obviously, in this case, there is a moral problem as well, but for that, I'm afraid, there's no legal solution.

If I got hold of him, I'd show about as much mercy as a Russian trooper storming the school of Beslan back in 2004...

I can imagine that but don't forget that violence breeds more violence.

 

[Anonymous]

Although it's sickening that he was making money out of it, my point is that he was abusing the despair of -- probably quite gullible -- people. The pain to have lost children may have blinded them, but that bastard saw the opportunity and behaved like a scavenger.

Nothing to do with economics and breaches of contracts that anyway cannot be honoured. It's about the pain of having lost loved ones and wanting them back by any means, as irrational as those may be.

Still, think how many people will want their dead child(ren) cloned if this technology is one day ethically approved (which I hope it'll never be!). But this is another debate...