Crime against Humanity: Taking of Hostages in Beslan

The article examines in accordance with the current international law the taking of hostages at school no. 1 in Beslan (Northern Ossetia, Russia), on 1-3 September of the year 2004. The author arrives at the conclusion that the taking of hostages, as well as the other related crimes (murder, torture...

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Main Author: S. V. Sayapin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) 2007-06-01
Series:Московский журнал международного права
Online Access:https://www.mjil.ru/jour/article/view/1493
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author S. V. Sayapin
author_facet S. V. Sayapin
author_sort S. V. Sayapin
collection DOAJ
description The article examines in accordance with the current international law the taking of hostages at school no. 1 in Beslan (Northern Ossetia, Russia), on 1-3 September of the year 2004. The author arrives at the conclusion that the taking of hostages, as well as the other related crimes (murder, torture, inhuman treatment) committed against the hostages amount to a crime against humanity, and not only a terrorist act.The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and relevant international jurisprudence are referred to as a basis for so interpreting the said crime. Though it is relevant to mention that Russian Federation has only signed but still has not ratified the above-mentioned Rome Statute. This fact complicates the matter of applying its provisions directly to the situation in Beslan but still it is possible to rely on it in interpreting related norms of customary law.In conclusion, the legal and ethical consequences of the Russian courts’ failure to qualify the taking of hostages in Beslan as a crime against humanity are briefly illustrated.
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spelling doaj-art-97c560e8a1d141a3b1eab224658745302025-08-20T03:55:55ZengMoscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO)Московский журнал международного права0869-00492619-08932007-06-010251910.24833/0869-0049-2007-2-5-191438Crime against Humanity: Taking of Hostages in BeslanS. V. Sayapin0University of EssexThe article examines in accordance with the current international law the taking of hostages at school no. 1 in Beslan (Northern Ossetia, Russia), on 1-3 September of the year 2004. The author arrives at the conclusion that the taking of hostages, as well as the other related crimes (murder, torture, inhuman treatment) committed against the hostages amount to a crime against humanity, and not only a terrorist act.The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and relevant international jurisprudence are referred to as a basis for so interpreting the said crime. Though it is relevant to mention that Russian Federation has only signed but still has not ratified the above-mentioned Rome Statute. This fact complicates the matter of applying its provisions directly to the situation in Beslan but still it is possible to rely on it in interpreting related norms of customary law.In conclusion, the legal and ethical consequences of the Russian courts’ failure to qualify the taking of hostages in Beslan as a crime against humanity are briefly illustrated.https://www.mjil.ru/jour/article/view/1493
spellingShingle S. V. Sayapin
Crime against Humanity: Taking of Hostages in Beslan
Московский журнал международного права
title Crime against Humanity: Taking of Hostages in Beslan
title_full Crime against Humanity: Taking of Hostages in Beslan
title_fullStr Crime against Humanity: Taking of Hostages in Beslan
title_full_unstemmed Crime against Humanity: Taking of Hostages in Beslan
title_short Crime against Humanity: Taking of Hostages in Beslan
title_sort crime against humanity taking of hostages in beslan
url https://www.mjil.ru/jour/article/view/1493
work_keys_str_mv AT svsayapin crimeagainsthumanitytakingofhostagesinbeslan