More than 20 people detained in the case of the attack at “Krokus”

On May 24, at a meeting of the Council of Heads of Security Agencies and Special Services of the CIS countries, the Director of the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia, Alexander Bortnikov, announced the detention of more than 20 individuals in connection with the attack at “Krokus City Hall.”

According to him, the actions of the attackers were coordinated by militants from the “Afghan branch” of the terrorist organization ISIS – Wilayat Khorasan from the “Afghan-Pakistani zone.”

He stated that the entire circle of those involved in this attack is still being established. “More than twenty individuals have already been detained, including the direct perpetrators and accomplices,” Bortnikov said.

He also accused the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine of “direct involvement in the terrorist act at ‘Krokus City Hall.’

The head of the FSB expressed confidence that one of the goals of the organizers of this attack is “to damage the relations of the Commonwealth countries using religious and national factors.”

The Ukrainian authorities have not yet responded to this statement from the head of the FSB of Russia; however, Ukraine previously denied any involvement in the attack at “Krokus City Hall.”

It is known that out of the 20 detained in the case of the armed attack at “Krokus City Hall,” the names of 13 have been published, of which 12 are citizens of Tajikistan.

The detainees have been charged under paragraph “b” of part 3 of Article 205 of the Criminal Code of Russia (Terrorist act committed by a group of persons by prior agreement or by an organized group, resulting in death to a person).

All suspects have been arrested by a Moscow court. They face imprisonment for a term of 15 to 20 years or life imprisonment.

On March 24 of this year, the Basmanny District Court of Moscow arrested four defendants for two months in connection with the bloody attack at “Krokus City Hall.” The court session was held behind closed doors. The defendants included four citizens of Tajikistan — 32-year-old Dalerjon Mirzoev, 30-year-old Saidakram Rachabalizoda, 25-year-old Fariduni Shamsiddin, and 19-year-old Muhammadsobir Faizov.

The Basmanny District Court of Moscow reported that all four admitted their guilt, and therefore were taken into custody for two months.

However, it is unknown under what circumstances they confessed, as videos published on social media show that they were subjected to torture and brutal beatings; even at 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.

Later, in May of this year, the Basmanny Court of Moscow, at the request of the investigation, extended the detention period for Muhammadsobir Faizov, Dalerjon Mirzoev, Murodali Rachabalizoda, and Shamsiddin Fariduni for another three months, until August 22, 2024.

The reason for this court decision is still unknown.

The court did not report how the suspects reacted to this court decision. In the footage, it is visible that they all stand with their heads down, looking very confused and tired, and it seems that their hair was pulled out in clumps during torture.