The investigation into the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall concert venue has been completed, lawyer Oleg Vlasov, who represents one of the accused, told TASS.
“The investigative actions in the case have been concluded, and the parties have begun reviewing the case materials. By law, the victims—who number around a thousand—must be the first to familiarize themselves with the case. Therefore, it is unlikely that the case will be brought to court quickly,” the defense attorney said.
Meanwhile, RIA Novosti reports that the lawyers of the accused expect the case to be sent to court by late March—around the anniversary of the tragedy. This information was confirmed by another lawyer, who stated that he anticipates the case being submitted to court by March 25.
A coordinated terrorist attack against civilians occurred at the Crocus City Hall music venue in Crocus City in the city of Krasnogorsk, Moscow oblast on March 22, 2024.
Media reports say the attack began at around 20:00 MSK, shortly before the Russian band Picnic was scheduled to play a sold-out show at the venue.
Four terrorists associated with Islamic State – Khorasan Province (IS–K) carried out a mass shooting, as well as slashing attacks on the people gathered at the venue, and used incendiary devices to set the venue on fire. Investigators said 145 people had been killed (including those who died later in hospital), and more than 551 concertgoers injured by gunfire or suffering from burns. On 28 March, Russian authorities also claimed that a further 95 people were missing.
The IS terror group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement through the IS-affiliated Amaq news agency shortly after the attack, with its regional branch in the Afghanistan–Pakistan border region, Islamic State – Khorasan Province (IS–K), most likely being responsible.
As of April 27, 12 people have been detained, including the four suspected assailants in a white car, who were captured on the 376-kilometer mark of the M3 highway leading to the Ukrainian border and about 340 kilometers southwest of Moscow, on the evening of March 22.
State Duma (Russia’s lower chamber of parliament) member Alexander Khinshtein said that Tajik passports were discovered in the vehicle of the individuals in custody, and the Russian Telegram channel Baza identified the four attackers as citizens of Tajikistan.
On March 24, four suspects, Dalerjon Mirzoyev, 32; Saidakram Rajabalizoda, 30; Shamsidin Fariduni, 25; and Muhammadsobir Faizov, 19, appeared at Basmanny District Court in Moscow and were charged with terrorism. Mirzoyev, Rajabalizoda, and Fariduni pled guilty during the hearing. All showed signs of having been tortured. They had facial injuries and bruises and Rajabalizoda appeared with a bandage covering his missing right ear. Faizov was brought into court in a wheelchair wearing a hospital gown, and appeared to have an eye missing.
On March 25, three more suspects appeared in court. They were identified as a father, Isroil Islomov, and his two sons, Aminjon Islomov and Dilovar Islomov, and were accused of aiding and abetting terrorism. Dilovar Islomov was the previous owner of the car in which the four suspected attackers fled the crime scene.
On March 26, another suspect, identified as Alisher Kasimov, appeared in court. He reportedly rented out his apartment to the four suspected attackers and was also placed in pre-trial detention.
On March 28, another suspect was detained, with the Investigative Committee of Russia saying that he was involved in the “financing” of the attack. He was later identified as Nazrimad Lutfulloi. He appeared in court on March 29, was charged with conspiracy to conduct acts of terrorism and pleaded guilty to some of the charges.
On March 31, the FSB announced the arrest of four people in Makhachkala and Kaspiysk in Dagestan on suspicion of providing funds and weapons to the attackers at Crocus City Hall. They also allegedly planned to carry out another attack in Kaspiysk.[143]
In Tajikistan, authorities reportedly arrested nine people from Vahdat Township on suspicion of involvement with the attackers on March 25. On April 4, the FSB announced the arrest of three people in Moscow, Yekaterinburg and Omsk, two for allegedly transferring money for firearms and vehicles used in the attack, and the third for allegedly recruiting and financing the gunmen.
On April 7, the Investigative Committee of Russia announced that Crocus fire safety officials and the head of the Crocus fire brigade were being investigated for fire code violations, which carry a criminal charge of negligence, and placed under house arrest. Neither of them was named at the time. On April 7, Russian authorities announced that charges were filed against a twelfth suspect for allegedly providing communications logistics and financing to the attackers.
On August 29, the Basmanny District Court released the names of five additional suspects in the attack, all of whom were citizens of Tajikistan.
