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Deadly Shooting In Russian Public School Prompts Push For Tighter Gun Control

Public-school shootings occur rarely in Russia, but a May 11, 2021 attack on School No. 175 in Kazan, the regional capital of Tatarstan, has undermined what sense of security parents had. Nine people, including seven children, were killed in the shooting by a suspected lone gunman. Another 21 people, including 18 children, were wounded, according to official sources.

Murder charges have been filed against a graduate of School No. 175, 19-year-old Ilnaz Galyaviyev, identified by the Interior Ministry as the only participant in the attack. Galyaviyev faces a potential life sentence, Tatarstan's Moscow representative, Ravil Akhmetshin, told reporters.

In April 2021, Galyaviyev was expelled from Tatarstan's TISBI University of Management, described as a "federal experimental platform" for disabled students and children with special needs. "Academic debt" -- apparently, a reference to academic underperformance -- was cited by the official news agency TASS as the reason.

An undated social-media photo published by Russian media allegedly shows a masked Galyaviyev in a photo with the caption "I will kill an enormous amount of biomass today and shoot myself." The photo is entitled "God."

The deputy chairman of parliament's Security and Anti-Corruption Committee, Aleksandr Khinshtein, posted on Telegram that Galyaviyev had received permission on April 28, 2021 to own a Hatsan escort PS shotgun. The source of Khinshtein's information was not clear.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has since called for tighter regulations on private ownership of such guns. For now, stated presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov, only preparations for such restrictions will begin.

Currently in Russia, hunting guns can be registered that, in other countries, rank as attack weapons, Peskov noted, RIA Novosti reported.

The independent news outlet Novaya Gazeta noted that the Russian leader has called for tighter restrictions on civilian ownership of guns before -- after a 2018 school shooting in the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea that killed 21 -- but no pervasive changes took place.
A woman places a toy at a makeshift memorial for victims of the shooting at School No. 175 in Kazan, the regional capital of Russia's republic of Tatarstan, on May 11, 2021.
1 A woman places a toy at a makeshift memorial for victims of the shooting at School No. 175 in Kazan, the regional capital of Russia's republic of Tatarstan, on May 11, 2021.
Law enforcement officers on May 11, 2021 work outside of Kazan's School No. 175, where at least nine people were killed and 21 wounded when a suspected 19-year-old gunman opened fire on the facility, according to officials.  
2 Law enforcement officers on May 11, 2021 work outside of Kazan's School No. 175, where at least nine people were killed and 21 wounded when a suspected 19-year-old gunman opened fire on the facility, according to officials.  
Law enforcement and employees of the Emergencies Ministry stand outside of Kazan's School No. 175. To assist victims, the government has pledged to pay each affected family 1 million rubles (about $13,500) and to allocate to each of the wounded the ruble-equivalent of $2,700 to $5,400, AP reported.   
3 Law enforcement and employees of the Emergencies Ministry stand outside of Kazan's School No. 175. To assist victims, the government has pledged to pay each affected family 1 million rubles (about $13,500) and to allocate to each of the wounded the ruble-equivalent of $2,700 to $5,400, AP reported. 

 
Nurses comfort relatives of students at Kazan's school No. 175. At least seven children were among the nine people killed there on May 11, 2021. Eighteen of the 21 people reported wounded are children.
4 Nurses comfort relatives of students at Kazan's school No. 175. At least seven children were among the nine people killed there on May 11, 2021. Eighteen of the 21 people reported wounded are children.
Ambulances wait outside of Kazan's School No. 175 on May 11, 2021. Aside from the ministers of health and education, the central government dispatched a plane with doctors and medical equipment to the city. 
5 Ambulances wait outside of Kazan's School No. 175 on May 11, 2021. Aside from the ministers of health and education, the central government dispatched a plane with doctors and medical equipment to the city. 
A woman embraces a child after the deadly shooting at Kazan's School No. 175. Over 1,000 children of elementary-school to high-school ages attend the public school. 
6 A woman embraces a child after the deadly shooting at Kazan's School No. 175. Over 1,000 children of elementary-school to high-school ages attend the public school. 
Two men and a boy pray at a makeshift memorial for victims of the shooting at Kazan's School No. 175. Islam is the most widely spread religious belief in Tatarstan. 
7 Two men and a boy pray at a makeshift memorial for victims of the shooting at Kazan's School No. 175. Islam is the most widely spread religious belief in Tatarstan. 
The head of the Emergency Situations Ministry in Tatarstan, Rafis Khabibullin (left), and the president of Russia's autonomous Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov (center), arrive at Kazan's School No. 175 on May 11, 2021. Minnikhanov has described the shooting as "a major tragedy for our republic." 
8 The head of the Emergency Situations Ministry in Tatarstan, Rafis Khabibullin (left), and the president of Russia's autonomous Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov (center), arrive at Kazan's School No. 175 on May 11, 2021. Minnikhanov has described the shooting as "a major tragedy for our republic." 
An impromptu help desk outside of Kazan's School No. 175
9 An impromptu help desk outside of Kazan's School No. 175
People gather near School No. 175 after the May 11, 2021 shooting there. One woman carries a stuffed animal perhaps either to commemorate the seven children killed in the attack or to donate for the 18 children wounded. 
10 People gather near School No. 175 after the May 11, 2021 shooting there. One woman carries a stuffed animal perhaps either to commemorate the seven children killed in the attack or to donate for the 18 children wounded. 
Evacuated employees of School No. 175 look on as law enforcement and emergency personnel work in and around the building on May 11, 2021. 
11 Evacuated employees of School No. 175 look on as law enforcement and emergency personnel work in and around the building on May 11, 2021. 
For additional security, law enforcement stand in the vicinity of School No. 175 on May 11, 2021. Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for tighter regulations on the private ownership of guns similar to that used in the attack. The type has not been specified, but gun owners in the region are being scrutinized, AP reported. 
12 For additional security, law enforcement stand in the vicinity of School No. 175 on May 11, 2021. Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for tighter regulations on the private ownership of guns similar to that used in the attack. The type has not been specified, but gun owners in the region are being scrutinized, AP reported. 
Armored vehicles parked near Kazan's School No. 175 on May 11, 2021. While armed attacks on Russian schools are rare, the most notorious such attack -- by Chechen militants in 2004 on the North Ossetian town of Beslan -- left 334 people dead. 
13 Armored vehicles parked near Kazan's School No. 175 on May 11, 2021. While armed attacks on Russian schools are rare, the most notorious such attack -- by Chechen militants in 2004 on the North Ossetian town of Beslan -- left 334 people dead. 
A serviceman lays flowers at a makeshift memorial outside the Republic of Tatarstan's office in Moscow to commemorate victims of the May 11, 2021 shooting at Kazan's School No. 175.
14 A serviceman lays flowers at a makeshift memorial outside the Republic of Tatarstan's office in Moscow to commemorate victims of the May 11, 2021 shooting at Kazan's School No. 175.
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