Victims of Budyonnovsk siege remembered

Russia is marking fifteen years since the deadly siege of a hospital in the southern city of Budyonnovsk.

Memorial services are being held to remember the 129 people killed by Chechen rebels.

A 200-strong gang led by notorious terrorist Shamil Basayev herded over 1500 civilians into a hospital where they were held hostage for six days.

Russian special forces stormed the hospital and managed to free dozens of people, but were forced to stop the operation after gunmen threatened to kill all civilians.

In the end, authorities agreed to let all the hostage takers return to Chechnya in exchange for setting the civilians free.

Along with the 129 deaths, over 400 people were injured.

Following the Budyonnovsk siege, a law was adopted that imposed a ban on meeting terrorists' demands.