Yeltsin blames political extremists for subway blast
He urges Russians not to be dissuaded from voting
June 12, 1996
Web posted at: 8:15 a.m. EDT (1215 GMT)MOSCOW (CNN) -- Russian President Boris Yeltsin has condemned Tuesday night's subway blast in Moscow that killed four people and injured at least 12 others, calling it a "barbarous act."
The blast cast a cloud over Wednesday's Independence Day holiday, which celebrates Russia's 1990 declaration of sovereignty within the Soviet Union and coincides with the fifth anniversary of Yeltsin's coming to power in 1991.
Yeltsin said the attack was an attempt to create a chaotic atmosphere in Russia before Sunday's presidential election. In response, Yeltsin urged voters to turn out en masse.
"Don't give in to provocation," Yeltsin said. "The best answer to the extremists is to vote on June 16, vote for civil peace, for stability and for the future of Russia."
Yeltsin summed up the attack as "a wild, barbarous act on the eve of the election aimed toward destabilizing the situation in the capital and creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear in Russia."
He vowed that those responsible "will get the punishment they deserve."
Political analyst Pavel Felgengauer said the attack would not affect the elections unless there were further consequences, such as Chechen separatists being identified as the culprits.No arrests made
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. The explosion appeared to have been caused by an explosive device hidden underneath the front seat of the fourth car of the Moscow Metro subway train, officials said.
The device exploded just after the train pulled away from its Tulskaya stop. The train was about one-third full; there were about 250 passengers aboard.
The Moscow Metro is one of the world's busiest subway systems, carrying about 9 million people each day, according to city officials. The subway system had returned to normal Wednesday.
The Moscow Interior Department said the bomb appeared to be a 400-gram "trotyle" explosive device. The Interfax News Agency reported that pieces of a timing device had been discovered.
Three of the victims died immediately, according to the mayor's office. The fourth victim died later in a hospital.
Pro-Soviet terrorists suspected
On Wednesday, Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov blamed the attack on terrorists who want a Soviet-style society to reemerge.
"Behind this terrorist act are forces which want to return the country to 1917, to the 1930s, to the times of lines, shortages, suppression of freedom and conscience," Luzhkov said, according to Interfax news agency.
Both Yeltsin and Luzhkov are running for re-election Sunday. The president faces fierce competition from Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov.
Chechen rebels, who have been fighting Russian troops for the last 18 months in an attempt to win Chechen independence, had repeatedly threatened pre-election bombings prior to the signing of new peace accords this past Monday.
Luzhkov said the rebels couldn't be ruled out as perpetrators. He said police had received more terrorist threats and were taking them seriously. Police told Luzhkov: "This is not all. More will come later."
Despite the increased threats, a pre-election rally, including a free rock concert that Yeltsin plans to attend, will go on as scheduled Wednesday night, Luzhkov said.
Communists make charge
Meanwhile, Russian Communists, who pose the most serious challenge to Yeltsin in the Russian elections, hinted that Yeltsin supporters might have launched the attack, hoping to destabilize the country and give Yeltsin an excuse to crack down on his opponents.
"The president, Boris Yeltsin, can use this as an excuse to begin repression against the opposition," said Viktor Ilyukhin, a Communist member of the Russian parliament. He said he doubted Chechen rebels were behind the blast.
Special section -- Pivotal Elections: Russia
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