On 24 March 2024, Russia charged four men with attacking a Moscow concert hall and killing at least 137 people. Three were seen being brought into a Moscow court, while the fourth arrived in a wheelchair. All four were charged with committing an act of terrorism.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack at Crocus City Hall and posted video evidence. Russian officials have accused Ukraine of being involved, although Kyiv has dismissed the claim as “absurd”.
The men, identified as Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, Saidakrami Murodali Rachabalizoda, Shamsidin Fariduni, and Muhammadsobir Fayzov, were shown in videos being brought into the court by masked police. Reports suggest they were beaten and at least one had suffered electric shocks during interrogation.
The men appeared in court with injuries, including black eyes, a partially severed ear, and swollen faces. One of them appeared to have an eye missing and was brought in on a wheelchair. They are citizens of Tajikistan, according to Russian authorities.
Russian authorities said that the gunmen stormed the concert hall in Krasnogorsk, a northern Moscow suburb, killing 137 people and injuring over 100. The attackers were arrested in the Bryansk region around 14 hours after the attack.
The Islamic State in Khorasan claimed responsibility for the attack and released footage of the gunmen firing on the crowd. Russian officials have not acknowledged the claim and instead suggested Ukrainian involvement, a claim that Ukraine has rejected.
The US has stated that IS is solely responsible for the attack, with no Ukrainian involvement. Seven other people have been arrested in Russia for suspected involvement in aiding the attack.
The attack comes amidst tensions between Russia and IS, with the group targeting Russia for various reasons including its actions in Syria, Chechnya, and Afghanistan. IS-K, the branch responsible for the attack, is known for its deadly attacks in Afghanistan and Central Asia.
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