An open letter to the leaders of the European Union and NATO

Overview

This September 2004 letter expressed solidarity with people in the Russian Federation following the terrorist seizure of School No. 1 in Beslan while warning against using the tragedy to justify further concentration of political power.

Beslan and the response to terrorism

The signatories condemned the attack on the school in Beslan and emphasized sympathy for its victims, their families, and the wider Russian public. They described the deliberate targeting of children and other civilians as an act that demanded an unequivocal international response.

At the same time, the letter argued that counterterrorism policy should remain consistent with democratic government and fundamental freedoms. In the signatories' view, security threats did not remove the need for accountable institutions or lawful limits on state authority.

Concerns about democratic institutions

The letter contended that Russia's democratic institutions were fragile and had weakened further during the first years of Vladimir Putin's presidency. It pointed to pressure on independent media, reduced checks within the federal system, treatment of political opponents and civic organizations, restrictions affecting elections, and weaker political parties.

Its authors were especially concerned by proposals announced after Beslan that would centralize additional power. They argued that these changes risked moving the state farther from democratic accountability rather than providing a durable answer to terrorism.

Foreign relations and regional security

The signatories also raised concerns about Russia's relations with neighboring states, European energy security, increasingly militarized political rhetoric, and adherence to international commitments. They maintained that a sustainable partnership with NATO and the European Union required shared respect for democratic standards and treaty obligations.

The letter portrayed the growing influence of state security institutions as part of a wider political shift. It asked Western governments to assess that trend directly rather than treating each development as isolated or temporary.

A proposed change in Western policy

The authors argued that the prevailing approach to Russia had not helped produce the democratic partnership Western leaders had sought. They called for a reassessment of engagement with the Russian government and for clearer support for democratic institutions and civic freedoms.

The appeal concluded that Western governments should apply democratic principles consistently, including to countries east of the European Union. Its central recommendation was to combine solidarity against terrorism with candid scrutiny of domestic governance and foreign policy.