Last Updated: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 Update: Russian Anger and Action After Nightclub Disaster Updated: Sunday, December 06, 2009 Russian President Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev. Photo: No attribution Russian leadership, from the very top, took fast and unflinching action following one of the worst nightclub disasters the nation has witnessed. On Saturday, Russian President Dmitry A. Medvedev declared a state of national mourning for Monday and ordered an investigation into the Lame Horse nightclub calamity that appears to have been triggered by the illegal use of pyrotechnics in a flamable building. The fire and fumes engulfed the first floor club. Approximately 230 partygoers, as of latest count were inside. Pyrotechnics set off during the Friday night performance ignited flammable materials over the stage. Video taken by clubgoers shows the crowd initially leaving in an orderly fashion, but like The Great White concert tragedy, people could not safely escape ahead of flames and fumes. Smoke inhalation and crowd crushing trapped those trying to escape to safe haven. According to reports from the city of Perm, at least 109 people have died and more than 120 people have been injured. If these number are later officially confirmed, that would mean practically every person at the club was injured or killed in the tragedy. Russian officials also quickly arrested club owner Anatoly Zak and the club manager Svetlana Yefremova. If prosecuted and found guilty for the disaster, the two could serve up to seven years each in prison. A sentence already thought too light by many Russians, including those injured and grieving over lost loved ones. Russian authorities, from President Medvedev to the first responders at the scene, should be praised for their quick and decisive actions. Compare the Russian government's response to the disaster to that of The White House, Congress and local prosecutors following America's 2003 Great White concert tragedy (100 dead) and E2 nightclub calamity (21 dead). In the US, state and national officals were quiet when it came to declaring a national day of mourning. City and state prosecutors failed the public when it came to identifying and criminally prosecuting all parties related to the two US disasters. And prosecutors also failed survivors, the families of those whose died in Rhode Island and Chicago, and the general public---through incompetence or intention---when the cases came to trial. Crowd Management Strategies, like any other individuals and organizations sends condolensces to mourning families and prays for speedy recover of those injured at the Lame Horse nightclub. [ home ][ crowdcafe ][ new ][ crowdshop ][ contact ] Crowd Management Strategies © 1997 - 2006. All rights reserved. Crowdsafe is a registered trademark of Crowd Management Strategies © 2006.