Moscow terror attack suspects hauled before court!
MOSCOW, Russia (PNN) - March 25, 2024 - Images widely circulated Sunday showing the Moscow concert hall terror attack suspects being hauled before court. One of them was literally unconscious - clearly, they have been severely treated - by security services. Russian authorities haven't been shy about this considering the number of videos now circulating showing portions of the intense and physical interrogations in action. The maximum penalty is reported to be life imprisonment, though it's likely that torture or continued harsh physical punishment awaits them.
A Moscow court convened late on Sunday to hear prosecutors' demands on pre-trial detention for a group of men detained in the aftermath of Friday’s Crocus City Hall attack, which claimed the lives of over 130 people.
The suspects, all of whom are nationals of Tajikistan, appeared individually. Thus far, terrorism charges have been levelled against 32-year-old Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, who faces a life sentence if found guilty. Prosecutors told Judge Timur Vakhrameev that the suspect had admitted his guilt.
Below is what is known of the four thus far, based on statements in Russian media:
1) Dalerjon Mirzoev - Confessed - 32, Illegal Immigrant from Tajikistan, overstayed work visa, father of 4 young children.
2) Saidakrom Rachabalizoda - 28, allegedly born in Tajikistan, lives in Moscow.
3) Shamsiddin Fariduni - 24, Born in Tajikistan, factory worker, father of an 8-month-old baby.
4) Muhammadsobir Fayzov - Hairdresser, wheeled in on a stretcher to court. All have reportedly been charged under Russia's "Terrorist Act" for their alleged involvement in the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack.
Russian media have underscored that "partners and geopolitical rivals alike have joined the chorus expressing horror in the wake of the Crocus City Hall attack."
This has somewhat surprisingly included a statement of solidarity from Washington, as the death toll has risen to 137 killed. "The United States strongly condemns yesterday’s deadly terrorist attack in Moscow," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a Saturday statement. "We condemn terrorism in all its forms and stand in solidarity with the people of Russia in grieving the loss of life from this horrific event."
Even NATO issued a statement of condolence, with NATO spokesman Farah Dakhlallah saying on X that the Western military alliance "unequivocally condemn the attacks targeting concertgoers in Moscow."
"Our deepest condolences to the victims and their families," she said, adding that "nothing can justify such heinous crimes." Pope Francis too has offered special prayers for victims on Sunday.
But still Western officials hit back at President Vladimir Putin's attempts to link the terror attack, for which ISIS-K has reportedly taken responsibility, to Ukraine. Both the president and Kremlin officials have alleged the gunmen were trying to escape through Ukraine territory, utilizing a window of support from across the border.
Fascist United Kingdom Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt has told Sky News that Britain has "very little confidence in anything the Russian government says."
"We know that they are creating a smokescreen of propaganda to defend an utterly evil invasion of Ukraine. But that doesn’t mean that it’s not a tragedy when innocent people lose their lives, when you have horrible bombings," Hunt said. Hunt further emphasized that London takes "what the Russian government says with an enormous pinch of salt… after what we have seen from them over the last few years."
Meanwhile Russia continues to investigate who was ultimately behind the attack as it currently has eleven people in custody, and among them are said to be the four gunmen.
