Expatriates back Putin's stance

By STUART DYE

Russians living in New Zealand are backing Vladimir Putin's handling of the school siege, which has left hundreds dead.

Putin has faced anger in Beslan, where security forces attempted to storm the building.

But at a special meeting of the New Zealand-Russian and Sovereign States Association in Auckland, expatriates said that they backed the Government.

Terrorists should be blamed for the rising death toll, not the Russian security forces, they said.

There are about 10,000 Russian expatriates in New Zealand and a small handful turned up yesterday to discuss their feelings on the siege and the loss of life.

Many spoke out about friends and relatives living near Beslan, while others quietly shed tears.

Association president Ian Hutchins said it was not possible to negotiate with terrorists. Military and police had done their best and the people claiming it could have been done better were not there.

"The terrorists are the people who should be taken outside and shot," he said.

Serge Sonkin, who has lived here for nine years, said for many expatriates Russia was the motherland and New Zealand was the fatherland.

"When such a terrible event happens people need to be together. We need to share because it's hard to be alone."

The meeting was a chance for people to "open their souls" on the tragic events in Beslan.