Just a week ago, President Vladimir Putin, exuding confidence, took the stage at a post-election celebration, flanked by young supporters donning “Putin — Russia — Victory” T-shirts. He effortlessly dismissed Western critiques of the electoral process as neither free nor fair.
However, this weekend presented a starkly different scenario. Putin found himself addressing a nation reeling from a horrific massacre at a rock concert on the outskirts of Moscow. The incident severely tarnished his image as a formidable leader, with gunmen ruthlessly killing dozens, an act that went unchecked by police or security forces.
In a televised address on Saturday, mere hours after the attack that claimed 137 lives and injured over 100, Putin attempted to politicize the tragedy. He insinuated a connection between the attackers and Ukraine, claiming the assailants had plans to flee there. Notably, he omitted any mention of the Islamic State group, which had claimed responsibility, or Kyiv’s denial of any involvement.
Throughout his nearly quarter-century reign, this isn’t the first instance of Putin leveraging a security failure to further his political objectives.
**Key Points About the Moscow Massacre:**
– The Islamic State group has taken responsibility for the devastating attack on a suburban Moscow concert hall, marking the deadliest attack in Russia in years, with at least 133 fatalities.
– Despite evidence supporting the Islamic State’s claim provided by the U.S., Moscow and Kyiv have engaged in mutual blame.
– Following the detention of 11 suspects, Russia continues its investigation, though the authenticity of statements from Russian investigators remains unconfirmed.
– Russia is observing a national day of mourning, with cultural events canceled, flags at half-staff, and a pause on television entertainment and advertising.
Putin, a former KGB officer, ascended to power on the last day of 1999, leading a campaign to quell separatist movements in Chechnya. He also attributed a series of apartment bombings in Russia to Chechen terrorists, bolstering his tough-guy image with a vow to relentlessly pursue terrorists.
Some critics of the Kremlin have suggested that the 1999 apartment bombings might have been orchestrated by Russian security services in a false flag operation to facilitate Putin’s rise and garner support for the Chechen war. These allegations have never been independently verified and are vehemently denied by Putin and Kremlin officials.
In response to Moscow’s accusations of a Ukrainian link to Friday’s attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Putin of treating his citizens as expendable.
Despite the quelling of conflicts in Chechnya, Russia has faced numerous deadly attacks, including the 2002 Moscow theater siege and the 2004 Beslan school hostage crisis. However, such incidents have become rarer in recent years, thanks to the iron-fisted rule of Ramzan Kadyrov in Chechnya. The recent attack has reignited fears of vulnerability, challenging Putin’s narrative of strong control and domestic stability amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Critics argue that Putin’s focus on suppressing political dissent has left the nation exposed to threats from armed extremists. Maria Pevchikh, a close associate of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, criticized the security agencies for prioritizing the suppression of political activists over addressing terrorism.
The ease with which the attackers executed their plan, leaving the scene without immediate police intervention, has raised questions about the effectiveness of Russia’s security measures. Political analyst Vladislav Inozemtsev lamented the wasted resources on security that failed to prevent the massacre.
U.S. officials have confirmed the Islamic State’s claim of responsibility and disclosed that they had previously warned Russia of a potential attack in Moscow, clarifying that Ukraine had no involvement.
Despite the tragedy, Putin has not acknowledged the Islamic State’s involvement. Instead, he suggested that the gunmen had planned to escape to Ukraine, hinting at potential retaliatory measures against Ukraine for the attack.
As Putin contemplates escalating military actions in Ukraine to create a protective buffer zone, the attack has prompted calls from Russian hardliners for more aggressive measures against Ukraine, rather than focusing on the threat of militant extremism.
Following a partial mobilization in response to a Ukrainian counteroffensive, the Russian military has increased volunteer recruitment, offering attractive salaries and benefits. Amidst calls for harsher measures, including the reinstatement of capital punishment, senior lawmaker Vladimir Vasilyev indicated that the government would consider public sentiment and expectations in its response.