Vyachelav Voronkov

‘Komsomolskaya Pravda’

26.10.2002 

“WE’LL LEAVE HERE ALIVE,” DECLARED RUSLAN THE GUNMAN TO OUR CORRESPONDENT

I tried to telephone my compatriots among the hostages, Odessa residents Grigory and Elena Burban.  Grigory is a 39-year businessman and had called his company in Odessa and told them of their misfortune even before they heard official reports about the terrorist attack.

Burban’s telephone was silent for almost a day.  Then suddenly, on Thursday, at 9:50 pm, I had a call.  Could it be Grigory Markovich?

“No, not him.”  The man who answered spoke in a hoarse voice with the accent of someone from the Caucasus.

“Who is it?”

“What do you want?”

“Is everything alright with Grigory Markevich?”

“Don’t worry, he’s fine.”

“What is your name?”

“Ruslan.”

“How old are you?”

“What’s it to you?”  The voice was tired, and fading at times.

“The people with you, is everything alright with them?”

“We have water.”

“Do you have food?”

“We have everything.  There’s cold water.  Inshallah (Allah willing).”

“When will you let them go?”

“Everything is the will of the Almighty.  Our lives our in the hands of the Almighty.”

“How do the people feel?”

“How should people feel when they are under bombs?”

“Do they need any help?”

“If you want to save them, come here.  Where are you calling from?”

“From Odessa.  Have you ever been in Odessa, Ruslan?”

“No, I haven’t.  The money on the phone could run out, send money, and I’ll pay you back.  We are very worried and wishing that everything turns out peacefully.  We’ll leave here alive.”

On this it ended.  I looked at my watch.  Our conversation had lasted 4 minutes.