"Shamil Basayev, speak louder! .."

Unknown details of the rescue of hostages in Budennovsk

The publication that appeared in Novaya Gazeta, dedicated to the role of Viktor Stepanovich Chernomyrdin in resolving a crisis with hostages in Budennovsk in June 1995, gives rise to more questions from a attentive reader than to shoot. Not quotes from the recollections of the CHC, not an interview with Nikolai Svanidze, a Moscow witness of this conversation, but a comment.

The first question: where is he calling? What, PMC had a number in the notebook, so I called? And to the point, often called up?
Second: what, Basayev had a "mobile?" No, he is cunning ... He knew: they would swap and kill ... Then what kind of device is this, physically?
Third: June 18, the fifth day of the attack ... Why did Chernomyrdin not call before? Waiting for what? Or did you suddenly remember? ..

And so on. But in fact, this connection, obviously, someone provided Viktor Stepanovich, this time.

So, there were plenipotentiary representatives. Who are? On what basis did you act? What were their powers?

Secondly, negotiations could not attach to the words "... speak louder!". What happened before the draft text of the agreement appeared? How did he perceive this project? What changes did you make?

** *

Budennovsk is a tragedy of thousands of people and thousands of memories. Let me add a few votes to this “Rasomon”, several evidence of the direct participants, whom I at the end of June 1995 asked: “Where does the phone come from? Where does the authority come from? Where does the agreements come from? "

At seven o'clock in the afternoon on Friday on June 16, the State Duma deputy, chairman of the Commission for Human Rights under the President of the Russian Federation Sergey Adamovich Kovalev arrived in Budennovsk (he used to, but was abroad, immediately interrupted the trip). He was a deputy of the Federation Council Viktor Vasilievich Kurochkin, State Duma deputies Julius Andreevich Rybakov, Valery Vasilievich Borschev, Mikhail Mikhailovich Molostyv and Alexander Abrahamovich Osovtsov, as well as Kovalev’s assistant “Memorial” Oleg Petrovich Orlov.

“Kovalev’s group” (hereinafter referred to as the group), which worked in the armed conflict in Chechnya since December 1994, from the beginning of the war, has now arrived in Budennovsk in order to assist in the release of hostages and establish negotiations with terrorists.

Our first source is Orlov’s Budennovsky Diary, the other three-deciphering the group’s press conference in the State Duma and their meetings in the Memorial on June 22, as well as an interview that Arseny Roginsky recorded with Kovalev a few weeks later (all quotes were given with minimal editors).

Let's give them a word.

** *

Kovalev: “We were placed in the building of the city administration, and until eleven we unsuccessfully tried to break through the headquarters, which was located in two or three quarters in the building of the Internal Affairs Directorate. Then I first called Yegor Timurovich Gaidar to Moscow, asking him to use his connections and his influence in order for us to prevent power decisions and offer our services in negotiations with terrorists. ”

Note: the group left for the place, not yet knowing what to do and whether it would be possible to do something at all. But sitting in Moscow, you can’t do anything.

In addition, no self -posterity: upon arrival, the group establishes interaction with Moscow, with persons making decisions.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Stavropol Kuznetsov very prudently leaves Budennovsk to Stavropol - the Antitic unrest allegedly begins throughout the region, - said to Kovalev: “I instructed my deputy Korobeinikov Alexander Vladimirovich - he commands everything - so that he would use you. You need to use all the possibilities. ”

On TV, they reported: Korobeinikov was appointed authorized representative of the Government of the Russian Federation in negotiations with terrorists, but in fact it is only a cover for a detailed “power” headquarters, which actually makes decisions. Kuznetsov seemed to understand this and what was going on, and that nothing good in this story awaits him.

Oleg Orlov’s diary: “ After 22 hours, the group is reported from the headquarters: in the evening Vyacheslav Mikhailov will come to them, and discuss possible joint actions. After 23 hours, Mikhailov calls: they say, it’s too late, but there is an encouraging promotion in negotiations with terrorists, and therefore he will not come today, but tomorrow in the morning.

Mikhailov, it seems, also knew and understood everything. Talking about negotiations and the participation of the groups in them was a disguise, because on June 17, at about 5 a.m., the assault on the hospital began.

At about 9 in the morning, Julius Rybakov brings to the administration of doctors - deputy head of the hospital Kostyuchenko Peter Petrovich and Chepurina Vera Vasilievna. Basaev released them from the hospital as parliamentarians, they tried to contact the headquarters, but did not find anyone responsible.

Meanwhile, Kovalev’s attempts to call from the administration to Moscow are unsuccessful - the group is cut off the phone. At 9.20, shooting subsides . Doctors meet with Kovalev, they say: Basayev is ready to immediately free pregnant women and women with young children without any conditions. ”

So, even before the start of negotiations, the first hints of possible compromises appear.

The group with the help of General of the Ministry of Emergencies allocates an office with a phone.

Kovalev: “... When these doctors appeared, it turned out that in the hospital - what did not occur to us ...”

Roginsky: "Is there a phone?" Kovalev: "Not only there is a phone, but it works!" Roginsky: "And did you have a phone?"

Kovalev: “And we had a phone. Just an ordinary local phone. Well, they called ... Doctors showed us the path, so to speak. They called on the phone and talked with their colleague. I say: “Everything is together! So let me talk to Basayev! "

Communication with Basayev was established.

Kovalev: “... Naturally, they immediately began to call Moscow. Again Gaidar - here I spoke quite sharply - and in the reception of Chernomyrdin. "

Roginsky: "Where did you call?" Orlov: “How did you call? There is a Moscow phone of Chernomyrdin. From the administration of the city of Budennovsk. We were sitting there. ”

At 9.50, Kovalev speaks with Gaidar and the secretary of Chernomyrdin. They transmit the telephone message to him, but he already speaks with Gaidar.

Communication with Chernomyrdin is established. It turns out that special communications do not need - there would be a will!

10.20. A call to the hospital, they say with the Volkhurgistry Skvortsov: many wounded among hostages as a result of the assault. Kovalev says with Basayev: it turns out that he does not require the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Chechnya.

Roginsky: "And after that did you ask Chernomyrdin's authority?"

Kovalev: “Yes. After. I used this conversation in a conversation with Gaidar, and then with Chernomyrdin in the evening, saying that I am sure that it is possible to achieve a reasonable resolution of the conflict without losses of hostages.

Because both Basayev’s tone and the words that he said convinced. Basayev did not say a word about the withdrawal of troops from Chechnya, he said: “I am achieving a truce to start peace negotiations. And if it is, I am ready to let all the hostages. And what would be decided to do with us - in an extreme case, he emphasized: in an extreme case - I am ready to stay here and accept the battle. Let them kill us. We knew what we were going for. ”

Cherkasov: "That is, on the phone, what later lay down on paper was formulated." Kovalev: “In addition to these extreme options. At some point, and in some form he said: "... either surrender and appear before the court." He never repeated this anymore - neither one nor the other. ”

In fact, negotiations, coordination of positions are already beginning.

10.54. Kovalev again speaks with the secretary of Chernomyrdin, reports on the terms of Basayev. Around this time, Basayev releases pregnant women and women with young children.

The process began, although no one has signed anything yet.

** *

But another story develops in parallel: a lie designed to justify the refusal of negotiations and a repetition of suicidal assault.

About 12 hours. Doctors speak with the Minister for Nationalities Egorov, who, according to them, replied: “Chechens do not go to negotiations. You are biased, you break into hysteria. You make Chechens heroes. The basements in the hospital are not mined - we checked. "

14.10. Again shooting and explosions. In the city, rumors are distributed about atrocities, about those killed by control shots. After 15.00. Orlov and Borschev go into a bathhouse turned into a temporary morgue: there are forensic experts, 81 body (without victims of the assault), 30 bodies were given from the hospital, there are no corpses with control shots, there are no atrocities with traces of atrocities.

At the same time, Rybakov and Kurochkin meet with the Minister of Internal Affairs Erin and Korobeinikov. Erin: "We have already pulled 50 corpses with control shots from there, so we cannot refuse to storm." Korobeinikov: “I understand that negotiations are needed. But I can do this only after Chernomyrdin makes a statement. "

** *

About 18 hours. Kovalev’s third conversation with the secretary of Chernomyrdin: “Viktor Stepanovich was very serious about your words. He immediately contacted Erin and North. ”

22.25. Chernomyrdin calls, asks Kovalev: “You need to form a team and go to negotiations to Basayev. You, together with Korobeynikov, form and decide who should go to negotiations. ”

However, at night, in the dark, it is impossible to go to negotiations.

Kovalev: “Chernomyrdin invited me at my discretion to form a group for negotiations, include in this deputy group. He said: "Take someone you want with you, include one of the representatives of the local administration in this deputy group." And he said that in this way I receive the authority to negotiate on behalf of the government. ”

Orlov: “... After that, the attitude, of course, immediately changes completely. We are invited to the headquarters. Kovalev traveled to the headquarters in the evening, then we are talking together in the morning at the headquarters. They [Egorov and Stepashin] are very respectful, explain what they managed to agree on, what they did not have time. They ask for something to do ... "

June 18, 8.40. Group at the headquarters. Egorov and Stepashin are present. Conversation on the phone with Basayev. They shoot at the hospital. At 9.30 , Kovalev, Rybakov, Kurochkin, Orlov and Sergey Popov (from the regional administration) are included in the hospital. Negotiations begin. Accompaniment - single shots at the hospital.

10.45 . Products are imported to the hospital.

Two hours of negotiations are enough to develop an agreement on the release of hostages first, then an additional protocol to it. Meanwhile, a new batch of women with children is being prepared for liberation.

Kovalev: “Negotiations were relatively short, because we quickly reached the agreement. Shamil Basayev removed some of the requirements for him; And the draft of the agreement took approximately the form in which he is reflected in the document signed by Chernomyrdin.

Roginsky: "And then you wrote this document, and it brought it to Basayev."

Orlov: “Yes, yes, together with Basayev they sat. We all sat together and wrote this document. They wrote a draft, then some woman was planted beautifully to rewrite. Both Basaev and everyone signed this. After that, immediately instantly the representative of the regional administration dictated to the headquarters. After that, Chernomyrdin called there, and Basaev read this text to him. This is the first conversation. Then this conversation from Chernomyrdin was broadcast on television. We all watched this. After that they were waiting for the statements of Chernomyrdin ... "

Kovalev: “Negotiations have been conducted for quite some time already with Moscow, the stumbling block was as follows: in the draft, which we have, which we have, where we have, where there are visas of all participants in these negotiations and even the seal of the Basaevsky battalion ... This draft was said something like this: all issues of political settlement are resolved exclusively peacefully on the basis of the negotiation process.

The projects of the government statement that came in response, this item was strangely excluded. It said something like this: a commission is formed as part of Volsky, Mikhailov and so on, which is entrusted with peace negotiations. Well, Basaev did not agree to this edition, there were long exchange of faxes and phone calls.

I immediately suggested: “Let's write an additional protocol where a certain important point will be scheduled for more details. It does not need any statement, it does not need to be attached, because this is not the subject of the prime minister, but let it be, and let it be transferred to the corresponding negotiation instance with all visas.” This was the second sheet.

Then Chernomyrdin first spoke with Shamil Basayev on the phone, and this was partially shown on television. ”
Chernomyrdin’s call to the hospital, Basayev reads him a signed agreement.

The background was not perfect for negotiations.

12.04 . BTRs advanced to the hospital, all on the verge of breaking.
Popov and Kovalev call the headquarters.

12.55. BTRs depart. There is a discussion of the details of the terrorist departure.

Meanwhile, Chernomyrdin performs on television.

At 14.30, 111 women and children are released.

15.03. The second call of Chernomyrdin to the hospital.

Orlov: “They sent a fax here with the modified text that was different than the signed. I have it - he is different. After that there was a second conversation when Basayev refused, he said: "No, you have changed, you need to correct it." And as if Chernomyrdin agreed to correct. We were waiting for the next fax. "

** *

Everything seems to go to permission. And then the situation is “played back”: for about 16 hours, Kovalev is called from the headquarters - supposedly to coordinate the passage of terrorists.

Orlov: “We were removed from there. And without us there was already the third conversation and the fax was sent, which satisfied everyone. ”

Kovalev: “And when these negotiations moved out of the dead point and more and more options for the Moscow edition began to appear, approaching the original draft, then the second one followed during this time and again not the last lie ...”

About 18 hours in the office of the head of the district administration, Governor Kuznetsov demands that Kovalev immediately leave the region, calls the Kazakov. A long scandal follows. The group is not allowed back to the hospital. About 24 hours, Kovalev passes the telephone message to Chernomyrdin and Gaidar, after which the phone is turned off. The members of the group are calling to the hospital in the administration, they say with Basayev and the remaining Rybakov there.

But still it was a decisive day: an agreement was concluded, about 130 hostages were released.

** *

June 19 . The group is not allowed to the hospital again. However, about noon began to form a team of journalists.

Kovalev: “And this continued until that time until it suddenly spread throughout the city:“ A group of Kovalev is urgently required, where is the Kovalev group? ””

Around 12.30 they suddenly told Borschev - the deputies will also go. Bring Kovalev. At 13.10, the group enters the hospital.

15:54 . The column leaves. There were 139 hostages, including 5 deputies and I, 12 journalists. 7 buses and refrigerator - there are 16 corpses. 127 militants, of which 10 wounded.

Meanwhile, negotiations between Chechen and Russian delegations began in Grozny under the auspices of the OSCE.

On the way, there was still an episode when the intervention of Viktor Chernomyrdin, possibly saved hostages, not allowing the buses from helicopters and completing the case on Earth by special forces. But this is another story. By the evening of June 20, the column arrived in the Chechen village of Zandak, the terrorists freed hostages.

But back to the “personality role”.

Kovalev: “As for Viktor Stepanovich Chernomyrdin, our telephone communication showed that he is a very confident supporter of the peaceful resolution of the situation and from this point of view, all his actions, of course, are positive.”

Cherkasov: “Common sense assumed one possible way out of the situation. He was both Chernomyrdin and Basayev. And your task was to fix it? There was no gradual rapprochement of positions? "

Kovalev: "No, no, in fact was not."

“As for Chernomyrdin, I was a witness and a participant in negotiations with him from Basayev, since at that time I was in the hospital and then during the route, and I must tell you that it was repeatedly thanks to the Chernomyrdin that we managed to overcome the“ traffic jams ”that the power ministers created us.

If it were not for his active participation and perseverance, perhaps everything could end differently. ”

** *

The Budynovsky crisis with hostages showed important qualities of the policy of Viktor Chernomyrdin: the willingness to act and compromise in the name of saving human lives; conduct a dialogue, listen and take into account different opinions; delegate powers; take responsibility. The qualities that are so lacking in the current Russian politicians that in power, in the opposition.