On October 24, about 18:00 (Moscow time) the leader of the YABLOKO party Grigory Yavlinsky took a regular flight to Moscow from Novosibirsk to be able to participate in the negotiations with the terrorists holding hostages at a theatre in the centre of Moscow. Yavlinsky is scheduled to arrive in Moscow at 21:00.

The leader of YABLOKO said on his way from Tomsk to Novosibirsk by car that he had talked to representatives of the terrorists by phone. They told Yavlinsky that he should arrive at the theatre unarmed and without security guards. They did not set any preliminary conditions.

According to Yavlinsky, the terrorists also told him "not to be late". He explained to them the situation, stating when his plane was due to arrive in Moscow.

Earlier on Thursday the leader of YABLOKO was called by the terrorists as one of the people they were ready to negotiate with (Ed. In the morning they refused to negotiate with any Russian citizens). Grigory Yavlinsky interrupted his visit to Tomsk region, where he participated in the burial ceremony of the chairman of the Tomsk branch of the YABLOKO party Oleg Pletnyov, who died tragically in Egypt 10 days ago.

To reach Moscow as soon as possible, Yavlinsky took a car from Tomsk to Novosibirsk to be able to catch the earliest plane to Moscow.

Based on Interfax-Eurasia reports.

See also:
The Moscow Times. October 25, 2002.One Dead in Theatre, 8 Walk Free

Reuters.Chechen Rebels Hold Hundreds in Theatre, One Dead. October 24, 2002

The Moscow Times. October 24, 2002. Armed Chechens Seize Moscow Theatre