13 Tajik nationals in Russia sentenced to life imprisonment

The Moscow court has issued a verdict in the case of the attack on the Crocus City Hall concert venue. Nineteen individuals were on trial, 16 of whom are natives of Tajikistan.

On March 12 of this year, the Second Western District Military Court of Moscow delivered a verdict for the 19 defendants in the criminal case regarding the attack on the Crocus City Hall concert venue during a session held at the Moscow City Court.

The court session was held behind closed doors, but the verdict was announced publicly.

The court sentenced Faridun Shamsiddin, Dalerjon Mirzoev, Muhammadsobir Faizov, and Saidakram Rajabali-zoda, whom the investigation considers to be the direct perpetrators, as well as 11 other individuals—two of whom are natives of Ingushetia and the rest from Tajikistan—to life imprisonment.

According to the court’s decision, part of the sentence will be served in prison, followed by time in a high-security colony. Additionally, each of them was fined 990,000 rubles (about $12,500).

In the indictment, the defendants are divided into several groups. Four direct perpetrators were found guilty of undergoing training for terrorist activities, illegal arms trafficking, participating in the activities of a terrorist organization, and committing a terrorist act.

Two others are accused of converting civilian weapons into military ones, five are charged with transporting weapons and ammunition to the attackers, and four are accused of financing the crime, including paying for housing rentals. According to the investigation, some other participants were involved in organizing connections and transferring funds, including converting cryptocurrency into rubles.

The court also sentenced Kyrgyz citizen Alisher Kasimov, who allegedly rented accommodation to the attackers, to 22 years and 10 months in prison, with confiscation of his apartment in the Moscow region.

Isroil Imlomov, along with his sons Dilovar and Aminjon, who, according to the court, sold a car to the suspects, were each sentenced to 19 years and 11 months in prison. The court also imposed fines on the defendants amounting to 200 million rubles in favor of the victims.

In connection with this case, Russian authorities have put two more natives of Tajikistan on the wanted list. According to the prosecutor’s office, the two wanted Tajik citizens and unidentified individuals “acting in the interests of the highest political leadership of Ukraine, organized the activities of three cells of the ‘Vilayat Khorasan’ group, which is part of the international terrorist organization ‘Islamic State’ on the territory of the Russian Federation.”

Ukrainian authorities have previously categorically denied any involvement in this attack. After the terrorist act, the terrorist organization ‘Islamic State’ claimed responsibility for what happened, releasing a corresponding video.

The reaction of the convicted individuals to the verdict is unknown. However, some of them previously denied the charges from Russian authorities, calling them fabricated.

Earlier, the Basmanny District Court of Moscow reported that four individuals admitted their guilt, but it is unclear under what circumstances they did so, as videos published on social media show that they were subjected to torture and brutal beatings; even during the court hearing, they had bruises and signs of beating on their faces, one had an ear cut off, and another had an eye knocked out.

Photo: Internet

The authorities of Tajikistan, whose 16 citizens received long and even life sentences in Russia, have not commented on this verdict so far.

Meanwhile, Gulrakat Mirzoeva, the mother of Dalerjon Mirzoev, told Radio Ozodi that the verdict against her son was unjust. According to her, the charges against him were fabricated, and the confessions were obtained under torture and beatings.

Abdujamal Islomov, the brother of Isroil Islomov, also stated to this publication that the family did not expect such a harsh sentence. “They have never even seen a local police officer. These are not people who can fight or do anything bad. We could not believe that they would receive such a sentence,” he said.

Recall that on the evening of March 22, 2024, before the start of a concert by the band “Piknik,” four armed individuals entered the Crocus City Hall concert venue in Krasnogorsk, near Moscow, and opened fire on the attendees. Shortly thereafter, a fire broke out in the building. According to official data, as a result of the shooting and subsequent fire, 149 people died, more than 609 were injured, and one person is considered missing. According to the Investigative Committee of Russia, the total material damage amounted to about 6 billion rubles.