Episode

Key Takeaways

The 1999 Russian apartment bombings, officially blamed on Chechen militants, remain subject to theories implicating Russia's FSB.
A suspicious incident in Ryazan, initially identified as a thwarted bomb plot, was later dismissed by the FSB as a training exercise using sugar.
Vladimir Putin's approval ratings significantly surged following the bombings and his strong response, including the launch of the Second Chechen War.
Investigations into the bombings were hampered by destruction of evidence and the suspicious deaths of independent commission members.
The handling of the 1999 bombings established a pattern for Russia's approach to information control and scandal management.

This bonus episode of "The Global Story" delves into the controversial 1999 Russian apartment bombings, which occurred shortly after Vladimir Putin became prime minister.
The official explanation blamed Chechen militants, but theories involving Russia's FSB and Putin himself have emerged.
Host Helena Merriman's new BBC podcast, 'The History Bureau,' investigates the significance and unresolved historical mysteries of these bombings.
The discussion sets the scene with political instability in Russia under Boris Yeltsin, leading up to the events.

Following two bomb explosions that killed 94 people, initial speculation pointed to Chechen militants due to a recent war (1994-1996).
A third bomb on September 13th killed over 100, causing widespread panic and leading residents to sleep outside their homes.
A fourth bombing in Volgodonsk on September 16th killed 17 more, bringing total deaths to around 300 and intensifying security.
Newly appointed Prime Minister Vladimir Putin delivered a powerful speech promising to eliminate those responsible for the attacks.

A suspicious car in Ryazan led to the discovery of a bomb containing hexagon, a military explosive, and an apartment building evacuation.
An intercepted call from a Ryazan payphone to an FSB number raised immediate suspicion about the bombers' escape.
Russia's Interior Minister praised citizens for thwarting a bomb, but the FSB head later called it a training exercise with "sacks of sugar."
This official explanation was met with disbelief by local authorities, residents, and journalists.

Journalist David Satter's attempt to publicize questions about the Ryazan incident was unsuccessful, failing to gain traction in the Western press.
The idea of FSB involvement seemed unimaginable at the time and was overshadowed by President Yeltsin's resignation and Vladimir Putin's rise.
Western leaders, including Tony Blair, welcomed Vladimir Putin as Russia's new acting president, viewing him as a potential business partner.
This positive reception contrasted with ongoing, albeit sidelined, questions from Russian journalists about the earlier incidents.

The launch of the Second Chechen War, with Russian fighter jets bombing Grozny, distracted from earlier questions about the apartment bombings.
Moscow cited targeting 'bandits' responsible for the blasts, but ordinary Chechens suffered casualties, and journalists noted a direct link to the new war.
Vladimir Putin transformed his public image from a 'grey mouse' former KGB official to a decisive leader, adopting military uniform.
His approval ratings soared from 2% to over 40% between August and late 1999, following the bombings and the new war.

The narrative suggests that the FSB and Putin benefited from the bombings, accelerating his rise to power.
An independent commission investigating the bombings faced severe obstacles, including the murder of Sergei Yushchenko and other suspicious deaths.
The FSB has consistently denied involvement, and Vladimir Putin addressed and refuted these allegations in his 2000 biography.
The 1999 bombings are presented as a template for how Vladimir Putin's Russia controls narratives and manages scandals.