Zarina's Story

These pictures where drawn by 12-year old Zarina Kesaeva. The first picture, ”Betrozovs and their father”. It is a horrifying depiction of the tragedy of Zarina’s uncle’s family, one of the many Beslan families destroyed by this tragedy. The second pictures represent a "Bombs wireing plan".

On September 1, 8th-grader Aslan, 9th-grader Alan, and their father, Ruslan, went together to the 1st day of school ceremony. Upon their arrival, the hostage taking began. At first, Alan managed to escape, but then returned to the school as he became aware that his father and brother were inside and was worried that they may need his help.

Hostage reports indicate that a terrorist approached the area where the three of them were sitting back to back, and, without hesitation, shot the father at point blanc range in the neck. Soon after, Ruslan’s body was thrown out of the window. Aslan and Alan witnessed their father’s brutal murder, suffered through the hours without food or water, and then died in the attack. Aslan was initially considered lost, but recently his body was identified. This is the story of the drawing of Zarina Kesaeva, their cousin, a gentle 12 year-old girl who also witnessed the devastation of this family.