Alexander Khinshtein uncovered a terrorist plot

On August 11, on the front page of Moskovsky Komsomolets, a small note by Alexander Khinshtein "The goal of the martyrs was a nuclear reactor" was placed, in which it is stated that the special services had detained three Chechens the day before, who allegedly were going to blow up the Institute of Nuclear Physics. Kurchatov or some other strategic objects. The authorities allegedly keep this information a secret because they "fear mass panic," but the journalist could not remain silent. In a small note (only 7 paragraphs) the author does not call the allegedly detained terrorists other than "Chechens".

We once again draw attention to the inadmissibility of mentioning ethnicity in the criminal chronicle. Moreover, in our opinion, it is unacceptable when publishing unconfirmed information of this nature. Why are the power structures, which benefit from publicly presenting the results of their anti-terrorist activities, modestly silent, and the valiant journalist is not afraid of provoking panic, much less another surge of anti-Chechen and anti-Caucasian sentiments, unlike the security forces? The position of the editorial board, which placed such material on the front page, and even highlighted it in black, is also incomprehensible.

Khinshtein Alexander. The goal of the martyrs was a nuclear reactor // Moskovsky Komsomolets. 2003. 11 August.