Parents seek justice
The week's news at a glance.
Vladikavkaz, Russia
Parents of children who died last year after Chechen extremists took over a school have shut down the trial of the only surviving militant. Nurpashi Kulayev, 24, was one of a group of Chechens who took more than 1,000 people hostage at an elementary school in Beslan, Russia, last September. When Russian forces stormed the school, almost all the militants were killed—along with more than 300 children. The parents this week packed the courtroom and shouted down the judge, saying Kulayev was a scapegoat. They demanded trials for the guards who failed to stop the militants, and for officials who ordered the storming of the school. “My son is dead,” said Susanna Dudiyeva, “and I am angry the state had to kill 330 people to destroy 32 guerrillas.”
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Anne Hillerman's 6 favorite books with Native characters
Feature The author recommends works by Ramona Emerson, Craig Johnson, and more
-
How Zohran Mamdani's NYC mayoral run will change the Democratic Party
Talking Points The candidate poses a challenge to the party's 'dinosaur wing'
-
Book reviews: '1861: The Lost Peace' and 'Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers'
Feature How America tried to avoid the Civil War and the link between lead pollution and serial killers