One of Russia’s preeminent national symbols, Red Square, has been closed until September or later, with officials saying little about the reason. Newspaper reports, however, stated that the square was closed out of fear that Chechen rebels would attack the area. The guerrillas carried out two bomb attacks in Moscow in July that killed 16 people. Security has been tight since the attacks and will continue to be so. Visitors are still allowed into Lenin’s Mausoleum, Saint Basil’s Cathedral and the State History Museum through special entrances.
