3 of 4 suspects charged in Russia concert hall attack plead guilty during court hearing
- The court ordered that the men, all of whom are citizens of Tajikistan, be held in pre-trial custody until May 22
- The hearing came as Russia observed a national day of mourning, following the Friday attack on the suburban Crocus City Hall that killed at least 137 people
Moscow’s Basmanny District Court formally charged Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, 32; Saidakrami Rachabalizoda, 30; Mukhammadsobir Faizov, 19; and Shamsidin Fariduni, 25, with committing a group terrorist attack resulting in the death of others. The offence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The court ordered that the men, all of whom are citizens of Tajikistan, be held in pre-trial custody until May 22.
Mirzoyev, Rachabalizoda and Shamsidin Fariduni all admitted guilt after being charged. The fourth, Faizov, was brought to court directly from a hospital in a wheelchair and sat with his eyes closed throughout the proceedings. He was attended by doctors while in court, where he wore a hospital gown and trousers and was seen with multiple cuts.
The other three suspects appeared in court heavily bruised with swollen faces amid reports in Russian media that they were tortured during interrogation by the security services.
One suspect, Saidakrami Rachabalizoda, had a heavily bandaged ear. Russian media reported on Saturday that one of the suspects had his ear cut off during interrogation. Neither the report nor the videos that purported to show this occurring could be independently verified.