The leader of the YABLOKO party Grigory Yavlinsky is now inside the building of the theatre and is negotiating with the terrorists, according to information released by the Head of Public Relations of the Federal Bureau of Investigations of Russia Sergei Ignatchenko to journalists on Thursday night, October 24.

Grigory Yavlinsky had returned to Moscow (about 10 p.m.) from Tomsk and gone to the theatre at Dubrovka to negotiate with the terrorists. This information was provided by Yavlinsky’s Press-Secretary, Evgenia Dillendorf.

In the morning, October 24, Grigory Yavlinsky was in Tomsk at the burial of the leader of the Tomsk branch of YABLOKO Oleg Pletnyov who died tragically ten days ago in Egypt. Yavlinsky talked over the phone with the terrorists holding hundreds of hostages. The terrorists told Yavlinsky that they were ready to negotiate, noted Dillendorf.

After reaching Novosibirsk by car (where the departure was postponed by the local administration) the leader of YABLOKO urgently flew to Moscow.

Referring to her talk with Yavlinsky Dillendorf noted that Yavlinsky wanted to make a number of proposals to the terrorists which in his view could facilitate settlement of the situation.

Grigory Yavlinsky gave no other comments.

Based on Interfax reports.

See also:
Act of Terror in Moscow

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