Фото Индиры Кодзасовой

Just like Andrei Turkin

Natalia Tsaloeva was having a hard time with the pregnancy of her third daughter, and two weeks before term the doctors decided to induce labor, otherwise mother and child might have had complications. This was on August 15th, 2004. Now Madina is 7, and every day the whole family thanks her for causing her mother to stay home during those bloody September days. Her older sister Anna and cousins Ira, Vera, Boris, and their mother Aunt Nadezhda went to school, however…

We are sitting at the table with Madina and leafing through her school primer. She knows all the letters: 'b' is for Boris; 'v' is for Vera… They are like guardian angels, gazing down at Madina from their large portraits. Her mother, Natasha, is talking about the war. I do ask which one. «My two-week-old daughter cried so much during those three days that I never got a chance to concentrate on what was going on. Maybe that's why I'm not crazy from the horror of it all.» Nadezhda Ilyinichna Gurieva, Madina's aunt, was a history teacher at the 1st Beslan School, and spent all three days spent in the gymnasium with the children. She does not specify with whose. She could not save them. She does not say whom — they all died. «Still shell-shocked and with my wounds in bandages, after the children’s burials I went to the school on September 7th and realized that my mission was to preserve the true memory of all this,» says Nadezhda as she shares photographs. Here is a picture of Andrei Turkin from 'Vympel' (FSB special commando unit — ed). Ira, Anya and dozens of other hostages are still alive thanks to him and his comrades. «He threw himself on a grenade that had been thrown into a group of children and parents by the militants. Now his family and the families of other special forces soldiers who died for us are forever members to the Beslan community.» So much so, that Andrei's mother, Valentina Turkina, hosts former hostages at her home in Anapa for the summer, and this year she was invited to the wedding of a girl who was rescued by her son. «Now do you understand why boys who went through this hell dream of attending the police, FSB, and emergency ministry academies, and why the girls dream of going to medical colleges? One reason — to be just like Andrei, while another reason — to never let his memory die.» Anya is already in medical school. Madina listens attentively and nods her head.

Happiness without scars

Fariza saved her mother Dina from grief and despair. Photo by the author

«I never knew that you were in this world, and you didn't know me, and we couldn't meet because we were mother and daughter. Well, let us say that you never appeared in my tummy — not everyone is given this — but you're the best and I love you more than anyone else.» Dina Kargieva, the mother of 7-year-old Fariza, had been composing this text for several months. Fariza attends first grade, and it is time for mother to tell daughter where she came from before someone else inadvertently does this first.

Dina was at school with her son and daughter, but returned with just her son. She realized that one can curse fate and lose oneself in prayers, but it is still possible to return to a normal life. With a daughter. And so she began to search for her. In March of 2005 she found her, and since then Fariza and Dina are happy, so far as this is possible in Beslan. «Sometimes my conscience bothers me — other women have gotten involved in public life and taking their children abroad, while I keep separate from the others. But I have such a bundle of energy in my house that I have no time whatsoever,» says Dina as she runs to the playground jungle gym. At that instant, Fariza leaps from a dollhouse to the high bar, and, if not her mother's strong arms, would have flopped down to the asphalt.

«More than anything I love 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles', they're so…» future first grader Alik Archegov cannot find the words. I understand that he wants to join the special forces. Alik is one of those who went through captivity while in his mother's womb. Oksana Archegova says that her son heard it all, and knows everything.

Now Oksana and her daughter Linda are in Moscow for yet another surgery. While she is telling her story, once again I am amazed at how the pain in children's hearts crosses borders and distances.

For 7 years, Russians and Americans have been helping several families cope with the consequences of their injuries. One of them, Vladimir Minyakov, told surgeon Victor Grishkevich about Linda. The girl has huge scars after being burned, and Victor Maximovich (Grishkevich), who long ago moved to the U.S., comes to Moscow every year and does surgeries on these children for free.

Oksana shows photographs of her daughter's arms before and after surgery, and smiles happily. Then says shyly: «We have so much, but really so little is needed — just good health for the surviving children…»

Expert Commentary

Susanna Dudiyeva, head of the 'Mothers of Beslan' public organization:

“We recently met with President Dmitry Medvedev. We wanted to address two sets of issues. The first and most important for us was that an objective investigation be performed, and punishment for all found to be at fault for allowing unhindered this hostage-taking and mass murder to take place. We brought the president a petition in which we included some issues with the investigation of the attack. He asked for an opportunity to study them like a lawyer. The second set is devoted to social issues. We want to have the status of victims injured in the attack. This will allow continued treatments, benefits and privileges. Injured service members from the (Osetian) Republic, under the 'Combating Terrorism' law were allocated 116 apartments, but what about others who lost breadwinners or their health? Dmitry Anatolievich (Medvedev) said that making and quick decision about a new law on the status of victims of terrorist attacks is not possible. The next day we contacted the ombudsman for the North Caucasus federal district, A. Khloponin. Later we had a meeting with Health Minister T. Golikova. We hope that problems with treatments and improving victims' lives can be solved, but you know, you cannot calm our hearts with just some pills. We need faith in justice and the law.”

In 'Arguments and Facts'

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