The Omsk Central District Court has ordered the continued detention of Belarusian national Sergei Eremeev, who faces charges related to organizing a terrorist act on the Baikal-Amur Mainline in the Republic of Buryatia. The court extended his custody until January 30 of the coming year, a decision reported by TASS and confirmed by court records. The ruling keeps Eremeev held in a pre-trial detention facility located in Omsk, where authorities argued that continued detention is necessary to ensure the investigation proceeds without risk of flight or interference with witnesses.
Earlier on December 7, law enforcement officials from the Federal Security Service of Russia announced the detention of a Belarusian citizen born in 1971 in the Omsk region, suspected of placing explosive devices on two trains along the BAM in Buryatia. During questioning, the detainee reportedly acknowledged acting under the instructions of an individual residing in Lithuania who is alleged to have been recruited by Ukrainian security services. The case has drawn wide attention due to the cross-border dimensions of the alleged wrongdoing and the involvement of foreign actors in what authorities describe as potential acts of sabotage.
According to official statements, the attack occurred in the afternoon on November 29 when four improvised devices installed by Eremeev detonated on a train passing through the Severomuysky tunnel, with fuel tanks subsequently catching fire. The incident led to an immediate response from security agencies and prompted media coverage beyond national borders. CNN has cited the sabotage claim as part of its coverage, though the Ukrainian government has not issued an official statement in response to those particular allegations. Coverage from various outlets noted the complex geopolitical context surrounding the incident and the ongoing investigations that seek to establish the full sequence of events and the motives involved.
In related developments, previous reports indicated that the suspect was reportedly in Moscow at an earlier stage as authorities pursued other individuals linked to similar activities. Subsequent actions by security forces included the detention of additional individuals connected to the broader investigation into alleged sabotage and terrorism-related offenses along critical transport corridors. The overall case continues to unfold as prosecutors present evidence, the defense files responses, and the court examines the material to determine appropriate legal measures and potential charges beyond those initially described.