FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Will Putin hit the Caucasus areas, or will he use the attack to "exterminate" Ukraine?
The emotion over what happened on Friday is still very strong in Russia. In Moscow, instead of advertising, images of candles appeared on electronic billboards placed on the streets.
However, at home and abroad, there are many questions. Many are those who ask why the car with the terrorists on board could travel almost 400 km without stopping first? And why was there a clear delay in the intervention of the security forces inside the mall that was the object of the attack? In Russia, however, all these questions are overshadowed by another question, which can easily be related to the ongoing war. In particular, it questions whether Moscow really holds Ukraine responsible, and whether the Kremlin's response will really be oriented more toward Kiev than toward the Caucasus and the country's jihadist strongholds.
Those arrested in court
Meanwhile, Russians have been able to see for the first time the main suspects of the massacre inside a court. Indeed, their faces were already known. On the day when the arrests took place, footage of the arrest and interrogation of the suspected perpetrators circulated on social networks. The photos and videos published, not without the desire of the Russian authorities, were intended to show the harsh blow to the suspects. There was also a message when the suspected terrorists entered the courtroom late Sunday afternoon.
Swollen faces, bruises on various parts of the body and blurred visions are further evidence of what happened after being caught by the security services. The answers of some of the arrested have already been made known on Saturday. In particular, there is talk of the possible recruitments that were made through Telegram and the money given in exchange for the massacre inside the Moscow shopping center. Answers that generate more questions than certainty, which will be impossible to answer at least in these early stages.
Russia between mourning and fear
But beyond the questions, for now in Russia there is above all space for the mourning process. The Sunday that has just passed was marked by the declaration of national mourning throughout the territory of the federation. Hundreds of people laid flowers and paid tribute at the site of the massacre. The pain actually seems to be felt deep within public opinion. The images, shared by the terrorists themselves, of the attack and the impression created by the death of over a hundred civilians left a deep scar.
In addition to mourning, Russia is now also living with fear. Just Sunday in St. Petersburg, a shopping center was evacuated after a bomb threat. The alarm was given after the denunciation of a citizen who claimed to have planted bombs in the structure. He has been arrested, as many questions have been raised in this case as well about the reason for this action in such a situation. However, at the moment, as with other questions that have been raised in recent days, there are no answers.
The issue related to Ukraine
The main question, however, concerns Moscow's reaction. Which will be guided not so much by any new investigative evidence, but by the Kremlin's choice of where to direct the cursor of accusations. Putin spoke on Saturday, promised an appropriate response and hinted at Ukraine's leadership. Then the silence. This last element is seen by some Russian Telegram channels as a prelude to a strong response against Kiev.
It is no coincidence that on Sunday evening the news spread on Ukrainian channels about the imminent preparations for massive bombings in the country. The most important, according to some bloggers, since the beginning of the war. No separate air strikes were subsequently reported overnight, but there are many in Ukraine who believe that in the end Russia will choose to believe (or want to make people believe) that Kiev's hand is behind the Tajiks' action linked to ISIS-K
The dilemma is precisely this: if Putin targets the areas of the Caucasus where the main jihadist activity is reported, it means that he will choose to act on an internal path. But if you believe that the danger has come from abroad, then serious attacks in the direction of Ukrainian territory are possible. / Adapted "Pamphlet" from "Inside Over"
Lini një Përgjigje