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'Dzhokhar, if you're alive, turn yourself in and ask for forgiveness' 'Dzhokhar, if you're alive, turn yourself in and ask for forgiveness'
(5 months later)
This is an edited transcript of the statement made by Ruslan Tsarni, uncle of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, to reporters in Montgomery Village, Maryland on Friday 19 April 2013:This is an edited transcript of the statement made by Ruslan Tsarni, uncle of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, to reporters in Montgomery Village, Maryland on Friday 19 April 2013:
The purpose here is just to deliver condolences and to share grief with the victims here, those who have been murdered, those who were injured – this boy, this Chinese girl, the young 29-year-old girl – I've been following this from day one. But I never ever would imagine that, somehow, the children of my brother would be associated with that.The purpose here is just to deliver condolences and to share grief with the victims here, those who have been murdered, those who were injured – this boy, this Chinese girl, the young 29-year-old girl – I've been following this from day one. But I never ever would imagine that, somehow, the children of my brother would be associated with that.
So it is [an] atrocity. We're devastated; we're shocked. I don't know – this family doesn't know – how to share that grief with the real victims.So it is [an] atrocity. We're devastated; we're shocked. I don't know – this family doesn't know – how to share that grief with the real victims.
We've not been in touch with that family [the Tsarnaevs] for a number of years. They never lived here. The last time I saw them was December 2005.We've not been in touch with that family [the Tsarnaevs] for a number of years. They never lived here. The last time I saw them was December 2005.
I never knew they had any ill will towards United States. If I ever had a guess, I would have submitted them myself. [What provoked this was] Being losers, hatred to those who were able to settle themselves – these are the only reasons I can imagine. Anything else, anything else – to do with religion, with Islam – is a fraud, is a fake. [They had no military training, since] I've seen them when they were kids.I never knew they had any ill will towards United States. If I ever had a guess, I would have submitted them myself. [What provoked this was] Being losers, hatred to those who were able to settle themselves – these are the only reasons I can imagine. Anything else, anything else – to do with religion, with Islam – is a fraud, is a fake. [They had no military training, since] I've seen them when they were kids.
We're Muslims, Chechens, ethnic Chechens. Most likely, somebody radicalized them, but it's not my brother who just moved back to Russia, who spent his life bringing bread to their table, fixing cars. He didn't have time or chance, or any option: he's been working. I've not been in touch with my brother.We're Muslims, Chechens, ethnic Chechens. Most likely, somebody radicalized them, but it's not my brother who just moved back to Russia, who spent his life bringing bread to their table, fixing cars. He didn't have time or chance, or any option: he's been working. I've not been in touch with my brother.
My family has nothing to do with that family. Of course, we are ashamed. They are children of my brother, who had little influence on them, honestly, as much as I know. It's personal: I just wanted my family to be away from them.My family has nothing to do with that family. Of course, we are ashamed. They are children of my brother, who had little influence on them, honestly, as much as I know. It's personal: I just wanted my family to be away from them.
Again, I say what I think was behind it: being losers. Not being able to settle themselves. And thereby just hating everyone who did.Again, I say what I think was behind it: being losers. Not being able to settle themselves. And thereby just hating everyone who did.
They came early in 2003. They moved to the States. They came to Cambridge. They immigrated; they received asylum. They lived there. When they grew up, my family had nothing to do with that family for a long time. Last time I spoke with them was 2009.They came early in 2003. They moved to the States. They came to Cambridge. They immigrated; they received asylum. They lived there. When they grew up, my family had nothing to do with that family for a long time. Last time I spoke with them was 2009.
I say, I teach my children – and this is what I feel myself: this is the ideal micro-world and entire world. I respect this country. I love this country. This country which gives chance to everybody else to be treated as a human being, to be a big human being, to fulfil yourself as a human being. That's what I feel about this country.I say, I teach my children – and this is what I feel myself: this is the ideal micro-world and entire world. I respect this country. I love this country. This country which gives chance to everybody else to be treated as a human being, to be a big human being, to fulfil yourself as a human being. That's what I feel about this country.
I just see them as kids, and if I had even slightly been aware that they were involved in [terrorism], I would be the first one to bring them into responsibility as their uncle.I just see them as kids, and if I had even slightly been aware that they were involved in [terrorism], I would be the first one to bring them into responsibility as their uncle.
They never been in Chechnya. They had nothing to do with Chechnya. Chechens are different: Chechens are peaceful people. They were not born there. One of them, Dzhokhar, he was born in Kyrgyzstan, that's a neighboring region to Chechnya.They never been in Chechnya. They had nothing to do with Chechnya. Chechens are different: Chechens are peaceful people. They were not born there. One of them, Dzhokhar, he was born in Kyrgyzstan, that's a neighboring region to Chechnya.
I saw their pictures only this morning when I was contacted from 7am with reporters. When they said have you seen the pictures, my wife opened up internet and I saw a picture of Dzhokhar.I saw their pictures only this morning when I was contacted from 7am with reporters. When they said have you seen the pictures, my wife opened up internet and I saw a picture of Dzhokhar.
[To Dzhokhar,] I would say, "If you're alive, turn yourself in and ask for forgiveness, from the victims, from the injured, and from those who left. Ask forgiveness from these people."[To Dzhokhar,] I would say, "If you're alive, turn yourself in and ask for forgiveness, from the victims, from the injured, and from those who left. Ask forgiveness from these people."
We're not requiring forgiveness in this family. He put a shame on our family. He put a shame on the entire Chechen ethnicity, because everyone now names [Chechen], they play with that word Chechen. So they put that shame on the entire ethnicity. I would say, "Turn yourself in, and put yourself in the discretion of those who are here."We're not requiring forgiveness in this family. He put a shame on our family. He put a shame on the entire Chechen ethnicity, because everyone now names [Chechen], they play with that word Chechen. So they put that shame on the entire ethnicity. I would say, "Turn yourself in, and put yourself in the discretion of those who are here."
[…] Again, with the families of those who suffered, we're sharing them their grief. I'm ready just to meet with them, I'm ready to bend in front of them, to kneel in front of them, seeking forgiveness.[…] Again, with the families of those who suffered, we're sharing them their grief. I'm ready just to meet with them, I'm ready to bend in front of them, to kneel in front of them, seeking forgiveness.
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