[CNN]
Media tycoon and former Kremlin insider Boris Berezovsky “told a news conference in London on Tuesday that Putin was aware of [the 1999 attacks which killed more than 300 people.] He said his information was from former FSB intelligence agents, investigative journalists and explosives experts.”
“The evidence has been compiled to form the basis of a documentary and a book, which Berezovsky unveiled to journalists.”
“Berezovsky said the investigation should look at the actions of Putin, who headed the FSB, the main successor to the Soviet KGB, until August 1999. At the time of the bombings Putin was prime minister.”
“The 1999 explosions were used by the Russian government to justify a new war in the breakaway republic of Chechnya.”
“Berezovsky showed excepts from “Assassination of Russia,” a French-made film that links the bombing on September 4, 9 and 13, 1999 in Moscow with another attack on September 16, 1999 in Volgodonsk, and with an attempted bombing in Ryazan on September 22, 1999.”
“The film and a book — “Blowing up Russia” — claim the Ryazan incident was a failed attack by the FSB.”
“Berezovsky and his team produced date-and-time-stamped pictures which they said showed the detonator found at the Ryazan site was real.”
“They said local police experts had confirmed that traces of real explosive were also found.”
“Nikita Chekulin, an ex-FSB member and ex-acting director of the Russian Conversion Explosives Centre, told the news conference he also had documentary evidence showing large amounts of explosives withdrawn from military bases by Russian authorities during 1999 and 2000.”
“”Why does [Putin] continue to block investigations into the deadliest terrorist attacks in our history? I am calling for an open and independent investigation.””, Berezovsky said.
Read more: Moscow behind bombings – tycoon
Related: Blowing up Russia (video)
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