The "01.09. Beslan File" book by German journalists was launched here May 23

Monday, February 24, 2020

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This book is a piece of investigative reporting by six Spiegel correspondents after the September 1-3, 2004 terrorist act in Beslan, North Ossetia (North Caucasus). At that time, terrorists seized a local school with many hostages. All in all, 330 people, including 186 children, were killed back then. Addressing a press conference, Christian Neef, deputy editor of Spiegel magazine's foreign news department, noted that German journalists wanted to gain an insight into the Beslan tragedy. "We did not strive to tell Russians about what was going on in their country," he stressed. Writer Anatoly Pristavkin, who serves as adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, also took the floor, noting that he had read the book's initial version prior to publication, and that he had a high opinion of it. "This book was written with German pedantry, featuring accurate chronology and facts. Moreover, it has a clear-cut plot. This is a wonderful piece of investigative journalism," Pristavkin noted. He also mentioned some drawbacks. "The book's naive authors do not know Caucasian history. This is why their few political assessments spoil the impression somewhat," Pristavkin told RIA Novosti. "This book contains precious facts, rather than declarations," he added.