A group of 11 schoolchildren aged 10-17 from the Russian town of Beslan – victims of the last year’s hostage standoff in Dagestan – has arrived in Moldova to undergo a psychological rehabilitation course in the village of Sadova.

“The psychological trauma sustained by these children is so serious that one year on it is still evident in their behaviour; some of the kids have become more aggressive, others – more silent,” Tatiana Svetlova, the Beslan schoolteacher, told a news conference in Infotag Monday, organized by YMCA-Moldova. “We hope that the psychological rehabilitation in Moldova will be good for them.”

YMCA-Moldova Chairman Roman Ostapenco said the kids are going to enjoy a special entertainment program at Aventura Parc including sports, discothèques, bowling and visits to the swimming pool, plus a cultural program including excursions to the Orhei Veche complex, museums and monasteries.

This group is our first guests from Beslan, said Ostapenco. “Apart from Moldova the kids have been invited to Turkey, but that offer had to be turned down out of fear of terrorist attack. Moldova is safe in this respect. If we manage to obtain financial support similar trips are going to be organized on a regular basis,” he added.

This is year’s visit has been partially sponsored by Moldova’s mobile provider Moldcell; during the news conference another sponsor - the supermarket Bomba - presented the Beslan children with a hi-fi center.