Moscow concert hall terror suspects face justice while Russia stands by security measures
Four individuals accused of perpetrating a horrific assault at a Moscow concert hall, resulting in the loss of over 137 lives, have been brought before the court on terrorism allegations. Amid scrutiny of the security services' failure to avert the tragedy, the Kremlin reaffirms its support for the security measures in place.
The four men accused of a violent attack at a concert hall in Moscow, which resulted in the death of at least 137 people, have now faced terror charges in court. The Kremlin has stood by its security services, despite criticism for not being able to stop the tragedy.
In a late-night session on Sunday, three of the suspects were seen hunched over as they entered the courtroom in Moscow. The fourth suspect, who was in a wheelchair, seemed unresponsive.
Four suspects from Tajikistan, who had been working in Russia with temporary or expired visas, were identified by Moscow City Court as Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, Saidakrami Rachabalizoda, Shamsidin Fariduni, and Mukhammadsobir Faizov. They could potentially receive a life sentence.
These individuals are accused of carrying out a violent attack at Crocus City Hall in a Moscow suburb. The incident involved shooting civilians at close range, setting the building on fire, and causing the roof to collapse while concert attendees were still inside.
ISIS claimed responsibility for the massacre and shared gruesome footage of the incident. However, the Kremlin has accused, without proof, that the perpetrators were planning to escape to Ukraine. Kyiv has strongly denied any involvement and dismissed the Kremlin's allegations as "ridiculous."
The first suspect to be charged was Mirzoyev, who appeared in court with a black eye, bruises on his face, and a plastic bag around his neck. Mirzoyev, aged 32, had been living in Novosibirsk, Siberia with a temporary resident permit that had already expired, as reported by Russian state media RIA Novosti.
Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, a suspect in the shooting attack at the Crocus City Hall concert venue, sits behind a glass wall of an enclosure for defendants at the Basmanny district court in Moscow, March 24, 2024.
Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, who is suspected of being involved in the shooting at the Crocus City Hall concert venue, is seen sitting behind a glass wall in a special area for defendants at the Basmanny district court in Moscow on March 24, 2024.
Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters
Rachabalizoda, born in 1994, told the court through an interpreter that he has Russian registration documents but could not remember where they are.
Fariduni, the third defendant, was born in 1998. He worked at a factory in the industrial city of Podolsk and was registered in Krasnogorsk, both near Moscow.
According to Russian media, all three men admitted to the terrorism charges. However, it was not clear whether the fourth man, Faizov, born in 2004, also confessed. Faizov was seen in a wheelchair, looking weak, inside a glass cage.
The men appeared battered and injured when they arrived in court. Videos showing them being beaten during their detention and questioning were widely shared on Russian social media. The court has decided to keep them in pre-trial detention until May 2022.
When asked about the "visible signs of violence" against the suspects, CNN reached out to the Kremlin. However, spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to provide any comment.
Mukhammadsobir Faizov, a suspect in the shooting attack, appeared unresponsive in court, on Sunday.
Mukhammadsobir Faizov, a suspect in the shooting attack, appeared unresponsive in court, on Sunday.
Rescuers are still searching through the rubble of the collapsed concert hall three days after the attack. The Ministry of Emergency Situations in Russia reported that over 300 specialists are working at the site.
The attack, which was the deadliest on Russian soil in almost two decades, shocked and outraged the country. Many people in Russia called for the perpetrators to receive the harshest punishments possible.
As the concert hall continued to burn, ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack. They also shared a video that showed the men as they entered the building where thousands of Russians had gathered to watch the rock group Picnic.
CNN's Matthew Chance speaks with people at the makeshift memorial outside the Crocus Concert Hall in Moscow, where more than 130 people were killed in a terror attack.
CNN's Matthew Chance speaks with people at the makeshift memorial outside the Crocus Concert Hall in Moscow, where more than 130 people were killed in a terror attack.
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CNN has located the 90-second video at the concert hall, showing bodies and blood on the floor while fire burns above. The video captures one of the attackers slashing the throat of a man lying down, and concludes with the four attackers exiting the building as smoke billows in the background.
Even though ISIS seems to suggest their involvement in the attack, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been quick to shift the blame elsewhere.
In his first national speech since the attack, which was more than 19 hours after it started, Putin stated on Saturday that a "window" had been set up for the attackers to flee to Ukraine. However, he did not offer any evidence to support this claim.
Other high-ranking officials have also tried to shift the blame onto Ukraine for the attack. For example, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova mentioned, "Now we have information about the country where these violent individuals intended to seek refuge - Ukraine."
Ukraine has strongly denied any involvement in the allegations. They have called it a planned provocation by the Kremlin to increase anti-Ukrainian sentiments in Russian society and encourage Russian citizens to join Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
Firefighters respond to the burning Crocus City Hall on March 22.
Firefighters respond to the burning Crocus City Hall on March 22.
Maxim Shemetov/Reuters
Despite the strained relations between the United States and Russia, the US embassy in Moscow recently alerted the Russian government about a potential threat from ISIS militants. Specifically, there were reports indicating that extremists were planning to target crowded events in Moscow, such as concerts.
In response to this information, the US National Security Council spokesperson, Adrienna Watson, stated that the US had shared the warning with Russian authorities as part of their "duty to warn" policy. Additionally, American citizens were advised to steer clear of places like theaters and concert halls to stay safe.
In a speech on Tuesday, Putin brushed off American warnings as "provocative," calling them "outright blackmail" aimed at intimidating and destabilizing Russian society.
When asked by reporters on Monday, Peskov declined to comment on whether Moscow had been warned by Washington. He praised the hard work of Russia's intelligence services.
A CNN team in Moscow interviewed mourners who came to lay flowers for the victims of Friday's attack.
Alexander Matveev, 37, shared with CNN that many Russians feel insecure and fear that another attack may occur. He mentioned finding Putin's statement about Ukraine's involvement to be believable.
“He said they were trying to escape to Ukraine. This makes sense. They just found some halfwits who were eager for money,” Matveev said.
Editor's P/S:
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