Moscow court detains Tajik suspects in deadly Crocus Hall attack

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The district court in Moscow ruled that the four suspects involved in the attack on the concert hall in Krasnogorsk will remain in custody for two months, pending trial – according to a statement released late Sunday evening on Telegram.

As reported by the AFP agency, the court stated that the four men are accused of "terrorism" and could face life imprisonment. Their detention, initially until May 22, may be extended until the trial, the date of which is yet to be confirmed.

Photos of the maltreated men, accused by Moscow of executing the attack, were disseminated globally. Three out of the four suspects have confessed to the charges.

The first to be accused in the terrorism case is 30-year-old Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, who appeared in court with visible facial bruises. "After the initial questions, the investigator requested the trial be closed to the press, a motion which was granted by the court," reports Mediazona.

The investigator argued that a public hearing "might reveal investigative tactics" and also "endanger the safety of the participants and their families".

Mediazona notes that the accused has a wife and four children.

Sergiei Sumienny, an expert on Eastern Europe, commented: "48 hours into the Russian investigation, this individual shows clear evidence of physical abuse, including bruises on his face and a plastic bag presumably used for suffocation around his neck. It raises serious concerns about what else might have been done out of sight. Now, the Russians label him an ISIS terrorist who has confessed. Really?"

The second accused, 32-year-old Saidakrami Murodali Rachabalizoda, was ushered into the courtroom with his head heavily bandaged. Russian social media recently circulated a video allegedly showcasing his initial interrogation, where the man's ear was severed and stuffed into his mouth.

The court also consented to conduct the trial in secrecy. Rachabalizoda, who has a wife and child, mentioned he is registered in Russia but "couldn't recall where".

The third detainee, 25-year-old Shamsidin Fariduni, a laborer in Krasnogorsk, appears to have been severely tortured. A distressing image shared on social media shows Fariduni on the ground, partially disrobed, with his hands bound and wires running from his genitals to a car battery.

Jaroslaw Wolski, a political scientist and journalist, remarked on the X platform that "Russia and human rights are fundamentally incompatible". He highlighted how such abuses recall practices of notorious secret police organizations throughout history, further commenting on the implications for Ukrainian prisoners under Russian control.

The youngest, 19-year-old Muhammadsobir Fayzov, was brought into court in a wheelchair, seemingly missing an eye.

Reports suggest the injury could have resulted from brutal interrogation methods. "He is unmarried and has no children," updates Baza, hinting that the injury could have been inflicted during custody.

Polina Ivanova, a "Financial Times" correspondent, described the scene of his court appearance as "harrowing," noting that details of the brutal interrogations had emerged in media reports the previous day.

Ukrainian journalist Yuri Butsov criticized the Kremlin's framing of the incident as "Putin's bloody coronation," accusing the Russian government of using the terrorist attack to divert attention from its own alleged crimes in Ukraine and suppress discussions on domestic issues such as the assassination of Navalny and electoral manipulations.

The assault on Crocus City Hall

On Friday, terrorists launched a devastating attack on Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, utilizing gunfire and explosive devices, leading to a catastrophic fire and the collapse of part of the building. The tragic event resulted in at least 137 fatalities and over 180 injuries.

The Khorasan Province of the Islamic State, the Afghan branch of ISIS, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Source: PAP / BBC / Mediazona / Baza