( CNN ) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Wednesday that those behind the deadly blast at Moscow 's busiest airport were hoping , in part , to prevent him from attending the World Economic Forum . Speaking at the gathering of business and political leaders in Davos , Switzerland , Medvedev said , `` Those who committed the heinous act by aiming their blow against the citizens of various countries expected that their act would bring Russia to its knees , would force us to be defensive . They expected and hoped that the president of Russia would not come here to attend to this forum , among other things , of course . This is the criteria used to choose the time and place for committing that act of terrorism . `` But they miscalculated . Russia is aware of its place in the world , Russia is aware of its responsibilities to its citizens and will comply with them , and its responsibility to the world community . This is the reason why on this day I 'm speaking from this rostrum . '' The bombing Monday killed 35 people . Earlier Wednesday , Medvedev fired top airport security officials . He accused transport police of `` taking an absolutely passive position . At best , they are examining migrants , to check their registration and display their authority , '' in comments carried on Russian state TV . Among the people he dismissed was Andrei Alexeyev , the head of the Interior Ministry 's transport administration for the Central Federal District , he announced in his televised remarks . `` If people do n't understand how to work , we 'll find other people , '' Medvedev said , according the RIA-Novosti news agency . Moscow is observing a day of mourning for the victims Wednesday , with flags flying at half staff . The government asked television stations to cancel entertainment programs as a mark of respect , RIA-Novosti said . `` We have to do all we can to influence , if not the ideology , then at least the social and economic roots of terrorism -- poverty , unemployment , illiteracy , parentlessness , '' Medvedev said in Davos . `` And we have to be sure that global development is stable , safe , and just and fair . '' At the end of his speech , he announced that he was cutting short his previously planned stay in Davos to head back to Moscow . The blast occurred around 4:30 p.m. Monday at the entrance of Domodedovo Airport 's international arrivals section . A day later , authorities were still trying to tally the exact number of people injured in the blast . RIA-Novosti said as many as 180 were hurt . The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations said there were 110 wounded people still in hospitals . Medvedev blamed security violations . `` What happened at Domodedovo shows the airport lacked security , '' he said Tuesday . `` It 's unbelievable that such a huge amount of explosives were brought into the terminal . Those officials responsible for security at Domodedovo must be punished for their decisions . This is a terror attack , a grief , a tragedy . '' It is not yet clear what impact a recent decision to shake up the Russian Transport Police , which is charged with protecting train stations and airports , may have had on the security perimeter at the airport Monday . In August , Medvedev fired at least 12 generals in the Transport Police branch of the Ministry of Interior , as part of a broader reform of the Russian security services . Domodedovo is 22 kilometers ( 14 miles ) southeast of Moscow and is the largest of Moscow 's three airports , as well as the busiest in terms of passenger traffic . It was still not immediately clear who was responsible for Monday 's blast . Previous terror attacks in Russia have been blamed on militants from the North Caucasus region . Over the past decade , bombers have hit trains and planes operating in and traveling out of Moscow at least four times , with a combined death toll of more than 100 victims . In 2004 , two planes blew up nearly simultaneously after taking off from Domodedovo airport . That attack was linked to Chechen suicide bombers . An explosive device derailed an express train in November 2009 , killing at least 26 people . Chechen rebels were blamed again . Medvedev has called on his government to do `` everything in order for the criminals who committed this crime to be established , found and brought to justice . And the nest where these bandits are hiding , whatever their name is , should be exterminated . '' CNN 's Maxim Tkachenko and Ivan Watson contributed to this report .
NEW : Medvedev says the Davos forum was considered in the attack 's timing . Comment: Moscow is observing a day of mourning for the bomb victims . Thirty-five people died in the bombing of Moscow 's busiest airport Monday .