"Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you are." This is an old adage used by millions of people as a guiding principle for new friendships. I believe Mr. President that you would agree with the wisdom of this old saying.

During your last visit to St. Petersburg, Russia you publicly proclaimed, "Vladimir Putin is my close friend!" I realize that high level government and state interests require certain degree of flexibility and sometimes even compromises.

Still I would like to ask you the following:

    Are you not shocked Mr. President, by President Putin's bloody dossier related to war in Chechnya, the war that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, civilians and military alike?

    Are you not compromised, as the head of the Unites States Government, to have round table dinners and joint walks around St. Petersburg with President Putin, whose image and rating are defined by the number of victims of a gas attack, number of women widowed, number of orphaned children; people who have lost loved relatives as the result of the "efficient and fruitful campaign against terror", as President Putin put it.

    Are you not concerned with the permissiveness of President Putin's actions, stemming from his experience in the KGB and Russia's imperial aspirations?

    So, what is it Mr. President that attracts you so much to be friends with Vladimir Putin - cynicism, rigidity, cruelty, complete indifference, or heartlessness?

Lastly, a question to the First Lady, Ms. Laura Bush, in my opinion, the most trusted and closest unofficial advisor of Mr. President - as a mother, do you think that the unconditional decision of your friend, President Putin, not to negotiate with terrorists, was correct, knowing that there were children among the hostages in theatre? Please remember for many of them October 26, 2002 became the LAST DAY OF THEIR LIVES.

Respectfully,


Lubov Burban,
Mother of Grigory Burban who died in Mocsow during the events of October 26, 2002.