The detention period for Tajik nationals has been extended

A court in Moscow has detained Tajik nationals suspected of attacking the “Krokus City Hall” concert venue for another three months.

According to Russian media, the Basmanny Court of Moscow has extended the detention period for eight defendants in the case of the attack on the “Krokus City Hall” concert venue in Krasnogorsk.

On August 18 and 19 of this year, the Basmanny Court of Moscow granted the prosecution’s request to extend the detention of Dalerjon Mirzoev, Saidakram Rajabali-zoda, Shamsiddin Faridun, Muhammadsobir Faizov, Lutfullo Nazir-mada, Jumakhon Kurbonov, Yokubjon Yusufzoda, and Muhammad Sharifzoda.

The court session was held behind closed doors.

The investigation accuses these Tajik nationals of “terrorism resulting in death” (part 3 of article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). They face up to 15 years in prison.

All defendants will remain in custody until November 22. The reason for the extension of their detention for another three months is unknown.

It is unclear how the defendants reacted to this court decision. However, previously some of the detainees disagreed with the court’s ruling and officially declared their innocence, but the court did not grant their request.

Recall that on the evening of March 22, several individuals in camouflage opened fire with automatic weapons on people attending a concert by the band Piknik at the “Krokus City Hall” concert venue in Krasnogorsk, near Moscow. According to eyewitnesses, the shooters also threw Molotov cocktails, causing a fire in the establishment. According to media reports, about 144 people died, including children, and more than 180 were injured.

Shortly after the incident, the “Islamic State” claimed responsibility for the attack. Russia accused Ukrainian intelligence services of being involved in the attack, but Ukrainian authorities denied all accusations.

Immediately after the attack, 32-year-old Dalerjon Mirzoev, 30-year-old Saidakram Rajabali-zoda, 25-year-old Shamsiddin Faridun, and 19-year-old Muhammadsobir Faizov were detained.

The Basmanny District Court of Moscow reported that all four confessed to their guilt, and as a result, they were taken into custody for two months.

However, it is unclear under what circumstances they confessed, as videos published on social media show that they were subjected to torture and severe beatings; even during the court session, they had bruises and signs of beating on their faces, one had an ear cut off, and another had a blinded eye.

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

After the attack on the “Krokus City Hall” concert venue, Russian authorities began to impose a mass ban on Tajik nationals entering the country, and Tajik labor migrants in Moscow are insulted and beaten by police and residents.

Labor migrants complained that employers fired them on the grounds that they are Tajiks, and they were not allowed into shops and buses. Videos of detained and deported Tajik migrants to Tajikistan are circulating on social media.