Schoolboys credited with helping people escape from the attack on the Crocus City Hall music venue have been hailed as heroes in the Russian media.

Islam Khalilov, 15, and Artyom Donskoy, 14, were working as cloakroom attendants when the attack began.

Together with other employees, they reportedly directed people fleeing away from dead ends and towards the exits.

On Monday, the boys were awarded medals for bravery in a ceremony by Russia's commissioner for children's rights.

"They modestly say they did what they had to do," Maria Lvova-Belova said.

Mrs Lvova-Belova is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes over claims of unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.

Islam, whose family are immigrants to Russia from the Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan, had been working at Crocus City Hall for about a year. He told local reporters that when the attack began, he thought "some company" was doing "noisy" repair work in the hall.

He said he understood something was wrong when he saw people running.

Video seemingly from the incident appears to show Islam directing people fleeing in a corridor.

The BBC has not verified the footage and has not been able to independently corroborate the claims made in the Russian media about the event.

On 22 March, four gunmen stormed the Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, a northern Moscow suburb, and began firing on some of the estimated 6,000 people who were attending a rock concert before setting fire to the venue.

At least 137 people were killed during the attack, according to authorities.

Four citizens of Tajikistan accused of being the gunmen - named as Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, Saidakrami Murodali Rachabalizoda, Shamsidin Fariduni and Muhammadsobir Fayzov - appeared in court on Sunday. All showed signs of severe torture.

Reports of xenophobic acts by individual people and authorities in Russia aimed against Central Asians have increased since the incident.

There are currently more than 10 million migrant workers from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in Russia.

Some citizens of Kyrgyzstan have been stuck in Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport for two days after being denied entry to Russia, broadcaster RFE/RL reported.

A source in the Russian foreign ministry told state news agency RIA that official measures to "control migrants" could increase after the attacks.

Russian media is crediting Islam, Artyom and other cloakroom attendants with saving the lives of over 100 people.

"I understood that if I didn't react, many people including me would lose their lives," Islam said. He added that he was the last to exit the venue, "so that I didn't leave anyone behind".

Grand Mufti of Russia Ravil Gaynutdin said Islam would be presented with the Medal of Muslims of Russia during Friday prayers this week. Rapper Morgenshtern said he would send the boy 1m roubles (£8,500; $10,900).

Source:
courtesy of BBC NEWS

by Ido Vock

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