Bombings Bring a Mood Meltdown in Moscow

By Tony Karon Wednesday, Sept. 15, 1999
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White-knuckle stoicism has never been in short supply in Russia. After all, the country lost 20 million people in World War II but still fought the Nazis all the way back to Berlin. Yet, amid a massive security clampdown following two apartment bombings that killed almost 300 people in Moscow, the prevailing mood is more resigned than defiant. "Theres an overwhelming sense here of powerlessness and very little faith in the governments ability to protect citizens from acts of terror," says TIME Moscow correspondent Andrew Meier. "People are depressed and demoralized but have nowhere to look for help."

Authorities are blaming the blast on Chechen separatists dispatched from near the Dagestan border. In response, Moscow law enforcement agencies are carrying out a widespread search among the citys Chechen population for signs of terrorist activity. They claim to be looking for a two-ton consignment of explosives transported to the capital in sugar bags, and have arrested more than 20 people on suspicion of involvement in terrorism. "But the bombing reveals a lot of whats wrong in Russia today," says Meier. "The terrorists are suspected of using locally manufactured high-grade plastic explosives, which would imply that someone in the military is selling it. Then its transported through all sorts of checkpoints, probably by bribing officials. And then the perpetrators manage to find experts trained in the use of such explosives who are prepared to act as mercenaries. Building a bomb inside an apartment building is a lot easier when there are all sorts of unregistered businesses being run from many Moscow apartment buildings. And then, straight after the attack, the authorities announce the name of a wanted man, only to admit hours later that the suspect died in a car crash in February. So at every level, you see the corruption and ineptitude of the state, and that leaves people without hope." Even if the perpetrators are caught, it will be a long time before the rot theyve exposed will be eliminated.