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Russian officials accuse opposition of exploiting shopping centre fire Russian officials accuse opposition of exploiting shopping centre fire
(35 minutes later)
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.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.
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.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.
“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, in remarks carried by Russian state news agencies. “Very many [of the demonstrators] were stoked up young people … people attended without understanding what they were doing there.” “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.”
Chernov did not offer evidence for the claim. 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. 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.
Russia held a nationwide day of mourning on Wednesday for victims of the fire, the country’s deadliest since a blaze at a nightclub in 2009 that killed 156. Moscow and St Petersburg also held unsanctioned vigils on Tuesday evening, attended by thousands. 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.
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. 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.
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.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.
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.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.
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.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.
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 in the blaze. They were trapped in a cinema in the shopping centre’s top floor. 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.
Members of a “citizen’s action group” who later met Putin said they believed hundreds had been killed in the fire, although the official death toll remained at 64. 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.
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.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.
“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.”“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.”
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.”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.”
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.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.
RussiaRussia
Vladimir PutinVladimir Putin
EuropeEurope
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