The Global Story: The mystery of Putin and the apartment bombs

The podcast explores the 1999 Russian apartment bombings and their role in Vladimir Putin's ascent to power. Helena Merriman, host of the BBC podcast "The History Bureau: Putin and the Apartment Bombs," discusses the unresolved questions surrounding the bombings, including the potential involvement of Chechen militants or the FSB. The conversation covers the atmosphere of terror following the bombings, Putin's strong response, and the subsequent war in Chechnya, which significantly boosted his popularity. Merriman highlights the strange events in Ryazan, where a supposed bombing attempt was linked back to the FSB, and the suspicious deaths of individuals investigating the bombings. The podcast further examines how the Kremlin's handling of the apartment bombings established a template for managing future crises and controlling narratives in Russia.