The Moscow City Courts Telegram channel reported that a Moscow court has detained another suspect as an accomplice in the attack by gunmen on a concert hall in suburban Moscow, resulting in the death of 144 people in March. The suspect, Dzhumokhon Kurbonov, a citizen of Tajikistan, is accused of providing the attackers with means of communication and financing. The judge at Moscow’s Basmanny District Court ruled that Kurbonov would be kept in custody until May 22 pending investigation and trial. Russian state news agency RIA Novosti mentioned that Kurbonov was detained on April 11 for 15 days on the administrative charge of petty hooliganism, which is a common practice used by Russian security forces to hold a person in custody while a criminal case is prepared against them. This is a part of a larger case where twelve defendants have been arrested, including four who allegedly carried out the attack on the concert venue.
The four alleged attackers appeared in the same Moscow court at the end of March on terrorism charges and reportedly showed signs of severe beatings. One of them appeared to be barely conscious during the hearing. The court ordered that the men, all identified in the media as citizens of Tajikistan, be held in custody until May 22. The attack on the Crocus City Hall concert venue was claimed by a faction of the Islamic State group, where gunmen shot people waiting for a show by a popular rock band and then set the building on fire. However, Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have persistently claimed, without presenting evidence, that Ukraine and the West had a role in the attack. In response, Ukraine denies involvement and its officials claim that Moscow is pushing the allegation as a pretext to intensify its fighting in Ukraine.
The incident at the concert hall in suburban Moscow in March resulted in the loss of 144 lives, making it a tragic event that has left many in shock. The accused individuals, including the four alleged attackers and others, are facing charges related to terrorism and have been detained pending investigation and trial. The court proceedings have shown that the accused have faced severe beatings, raising concerns about their treatment while in custody. The role of Kurbonov, who is accused of providing means of communication and financing to the attackers, sheds light on the complexity of the case and the investigation process.
Russian authorities have been investigating the attack rigorously, with multiple suspects being detained and facing charges in connection with the massacre. The involvement of a citizen of Tajikistan in providing support to the attackers raises questions about the extent of the network involved in planning and executing the attack. Despite claims by a faction of the Islamic State group, Russian officials continue to assert that Ukraine and the West were involved in the attack, leading to tensions between the two countries. The conflicting narratives and lack of evidence presented by Russian officials highlight the challenges in determining the true perpetrators of the attack and holding them accountable.
As the investigation and trial proceedings continue, the families of the victims and the public await justice for the lives lost in the tragic attack. The court’s decision to detain Kurbonov and other suspects until May 22 reflects the seriousness of the charges they are facing and the need for a thorough investigation. The international implications of the attack, with accusations against Ukraine and the West, add another layer of complexity to the case. The ongoing developments in the investigation will determine the outcome of the trial and shed light on the motives behind the attack on the concert hall.
