BESLAN, North Ossetia -- The School No. 1 made infamous in a three-day hostage crisis and tragic rescue effort in this North Ossetian town five years ago will be preserved in its current, bullet- and explosion-ravaged state, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.
The Beslan school complex was virtually destroyed during the 2004 incident, and has remained a hallowed site for those mourning the more than 330 victims who died, including 186 children.
Martin Stockmeier, a representative of the German firm working on the project, KnaufKassel, told RFE/RL that company would work to preserve the gutted remains of the building.
Stockmeier said a new building would be constructed nearby to house a museum to commemorate the victims of the Beslan tragedy.
The militants, all but one of whom are thought to have been killed when Russian forces launched a rescue effort two days after the standoff began, were demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from neighboring Chechnya.
The Beslan school complex was virtually destroyed during the 2004 incident, and has remained a hallowed site for those mourning the more than 330 victims who died, including 186 children.
Martin Stockmeier, a representative of the German firm working on the project, KnaufKassel, told RFE/RL that company would work to preserve the gutted remains of the building.
Stockmeier said a new building would be constructed nearby to house a museum to commemorate the victims of the Beslan tragedy.
The militants, all but one of whom are thought to have been killed when Russian forces launched a rescue effort two days after the standoff began, were demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from neighboring Chechnya.
