In Russia, terrorism does not conform to the norms that exist around the world. Here, acts of terrorism occur when it suits the interests of the powers-that-be. The blowing-up of apartment blocks in 1999 marked the start of Vladimir Putin&#039s election campaign. The bus hijacking in Mineralniye Vody by a Chechen occurred on exactly the same day that refugees in Ingushetia were organising a peace march. The explosion in a market-place in Astrakhan happened just as anti-war sentiments were strengthening in society, moreover in a city where such sentiments are pretty strong. Full Story