The day after the terrorist attack that hit a concert hall in the suburbs of Moscow on Friday, Russians in France are thinking first and foremost about the victims.
Published on 23/03/2024 at 18:51, the Russian community gathered at iconic locations in the French capital to pay tribute to the victims of the terrorist attack in Moscow on March 22, 2024.
Vladimir Putin has denounced a “barbaric terrorist act” following the attack in Moscow on March 22. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attack and the fire at a concert hall near the Russian capital. American intelligence agencies consider this claim to be credible. However, within the Russian community in France, everyone remains cautious about what happened.
The focus is on mourning and prayers at the Russian Orthodox cathedral. Nadia, 20 years old, has her thoughts turned towards Moscow: “It is a great mourning for all of us. Our hearts are with the people who died, who were injured there. Last night, as soon as we found out at home, we said our prayers for the dead, for the injured.”
Wearing a black tunic, Daniel, born in France to a Russian family, seeks peace. “I have heard many people, including Christians, say that they should not have gone to a concert during the first week of Lent. I disagree with these people,” he explains. “The current objective is not necessarily to find out who is responsible by denouncing that it could be linked to Ukraine, or linked to recent events in Palestine or Israel, or linked to other countries.”
“The urgency is mainly to provide assistance to the wounded,” says Daniel, of Russian descent, to Franceinfo.
However, doubts are present in everyone’s minds. Some refuse to speak publicly, but hint at the possibility of Ukrainian involvement. “It is necessary to be all united,” says Yulia, at the Russian conservatory, attempting to provide a nuanced perspective.
Yulia believes that Islamism is involved, without a doubt. She questions whether there are other aspects intertwined. The key is to eradicate terrorism and stand together, regardless of differences in interests or views. Yulia wonders about the American embassy warning of an attack at a concert in Moscow – was it a general statement or did they have specific information that could have prevented the attack?
Yulia expresses doubt and then becomes outraged at hearing some suggest that Vladimir Putin himself may have organized the attack to then retaliate. This idea is unthinkable to her. Yulia refrains from commenting on a potential security flaw in Moscow or the war in Ukraine.
