Anna Politkovskaya Memorial Event - Timothy Phillips

Phillips's talk was as poignant as it was insightful

Feature by Laurel Wilson | 08 Sep 2007
The first Anna Politkovskaya Memorial Event was an informal speech given by Timothy Phillips, Russian translator and author of the recent book Beslan: The Tragedy of School No 1. Using the events at Beslan as a starting point, Phillips gave a sombre account of Russian society and the history of the conflict in the North Caucasus. The Chechen conflict, Phillips pointed out, began in mythology, the identities of key parties defined by mutual hatred. The facts of what happened at Beslan are still not clear and investigations are disputed. It is clear that the government's management of the crisis was flawed, though how much they are to blame for the escalation in the conflict is contentious. Phillips found that many Russians weren't interested in the tragedy of Beslan; their lives overflow with their own difficulties and suffering, leaving no space for the suffering of others. In Beslan itself, talk of revenge is abundant. Nothing has changed as a result of Beslan, and there seems no political will for change. Phillips's talk was as poignant as it was insightful, giving a portrait of a broken down, divided society where life is cheap and marred by violence. Russia moves on through necessity, but the problems remain. [Laurel Wilson]