Russia accuses four suspects of the attack near Moscow of terrorism

2024-03-25 10:11:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Russian prosecutors have indicted four men they accuse of carrying out the attack on a concert hall near Moscow and killing at least 137 people on March 22.

On March 24, a Moscow court sentenced four people accused of terrorism in connection with the attack on the concert hall near Moscow to two months' detention.

The court revealed the names of the suspects as Murodali Rajabalizoda, Dalerjon Mirzoev, Muhammadsobir Faizov and Faridun Shamsiddin, and said they are citizens of Tajikistan.

Three of them, Mirzoev, Rajabalizoda, and Shamsidin, pleaded guilty to all charges, according to the court.

Faizov was brought to court on March 24 directly from the hospital on a gurney and sat with his eyes closed throughout the hearing, the Associated Press reported. He had many wounds and was supervised by doctors even in the courtroom.

The suspects were provided with interpreters as they arrived in the courtroom bloodied and with swollen faces.

Investigators cited the need to preserve the confidentiality of the investigation and the safety of participants and relatives when they requested that the hearing be held behind closed doors.

During the open court session, it was learned that Mirzoev is registered in Novosibirsk, Russia, and is 32 years old. He is married and has four children.

Rahabalizoda said he is 30 years old, married and has a child.

The four accused are among 11 people Russian authorities said they arrested in connection with the March 22 attack.

Sunday was a day of mourning across Russia for the victims of the attack, in which more than 180 people were also injured.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called the attack "bloody, barbaric and terrorist" during a speech on March 23, where he did not mention Islamic State, which claimed responsibility for the attack.

He claimed that Ukraine was involved, which has been categorically denied by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

US officials said on March 24 that Ukraine had no hand in the massacre.

The Islamic State "is solely responsible for this attack. There was absolutely no Ukrainian involvement in this," said White House Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson./REL