Message from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation Concerning the Occupation of a Theater in Moscow

  Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi sent a message to President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation on 24 October 2002, via the Embassy of Japan in Russia, concerning the occupation of a theater in Moscow. An outline of the message is as follows.

  The recent occupation of a theater in Moscow involving ordinary citizens can never be tolerated. I sincerely hope that under Your Excellency's strong leadership all hostages will be safely freed and that the situation will be promptly resolved.