Moscow [Russia], March 25: On March 24 (Russia time), four suspects appeared in court in Moscow and were indicted for participating in the attack that left at least 137 people dead at the Crocus City Hall auditorium on the outskirts of the Russian capital on March 22.
The suspects in the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall were officially confirmed as Tajik citizens and were detained awaiting trial for 2 months, according to TASS on March 25.
A Russian court released a clip of police escorting a suspect handcuffed behind his back into the courtroom, as well as images of this person sitting in a glass cage for the defendant.
Another suspect was blindfolded and handcuffed while being led into the courtroom. Another suspect was in a wheelchair when he was brought in. The suspects are named Saidakrami Murodali Rachabalizoda (30 years old), Dalerdzhon Barotovich Mirzoyev (32 years old), Shamsidin Fariduni (25 years old) and Muhammadsobir Fayzov (19 years old). All four people were charged with a terrorist attack that resulted in the victim's death.
All four defendants face life imprisonment, according to a statement by the court in Moscow.
These people will be detained awaiting trial until May 22, but that period may be extended after the court sets a specific trial date.
The court said three of the defendants pleaded guilty, and one defendant was fully aware of his guilt.
The self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the incident and on March 24 released a clip that the organization said was filmed by a group of four people while carrying out the attack at the Crocus City Hall auditorium. Currently, Russia continues to investigate the incident, while Ukraine denies involvement.
The US said it had received intelligence showing that the group of four people acted under the direction of IS, and that "IS is fully responsible for the attack. There is no connection with Ukraine", according to the spokesman. US National Security Council Adrienne Watson.
However, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denied the above information from the US. "Until the investigation into the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall ends, any phrase used by Washington to exonerate Kyiv can be considered evidence in court," Ms. Zakharova emphasized.
The death toll in the terrorist attack has risen to at least 137 people and another 154 people were injured, according to the Russian Investigative Committee.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
