Russian justice moved swiftly after the Crocus City Hall attack, detaining four suspects and ordering two months of pretrial detention. Each man faces terrorism charges for the assault that killed 137 people, with potential life sentences if convicted. Detention can be extended while the case unfolds, though no date for a trial has been set. The suspects appeared before a judge showing clear signs of violence. The attack was claimed by the Islamic State group, which released a video tied to the incident.
The Moscow district court in Basmani released footage showing police escorting one suspect into the courtroom in handcuffs, and stills of him seated in a glass-walled room. One suspect arrived blindfolded, and when the masking was removed, he had a bruised eye. Another suspect was wheeled into the room, unable to stand, with a catheter in place. Some videos circulated this week showing alleged mistreatment of the detainees. The material appeared on Telegram channels linked to the Wagner mercenary group and was later shared without hesitation by state-backed Russian channels, suggesting the accused, still awaiting trial, faced harsh conditions in custody. On Sunday, Russia’s security council vice president Dmitri Medvedev posted on X that Moscow would seek vengeance for every victim and warned that the dead were now a legitimate target, regardless of their origin or status.
One clip from Russian bloggers shows security forces cutting a man’s ear and forcing the wound into his mouth during interrogation about the attack. Another video shows guards striking a suspect with rifle butts and kicking him as he lies in the snow. The most severely injured detainee reportedly received electric shocks to the genitals. All the suspects wore bruises during Sunday night’s court appearance.
Torture Allegations by Paramilitaries
Independent Russian media reported that the officer who appeared to cut the suspect’s ear wore patches indicating support for neo-Nazi groups and appeared connected to the right-wing paramilitary Rusich active in Ukraine. The patches included a black sun and a symbol resembling the Totenkopf. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the torture claims, saying he would not answer that question. He also refused to discuss responsibility for the attack by the Islamic State group, sticking to the official line that no comment would be made while the investigation continues.
The Kremlin avoided commenting on the Islamic State claim while the probe proceeds. The presidential administration said that the investigation was ongoing and that it would be wrong to speculate. President Vladimir Putin did not mention IS in a televised address, but he did note that the attackers were intercepted as they moved toward the border with Ukraine.
Confessions from the Accused
The first two suspects who appeared before the judge were Saidakrami Rachabalizoda and Dalerdzhon Mirzoev. Mirzoev, a Tajik citizen with three young children, said he lives in the Moscow region with residence documents expired months earlier and with no prior criminal record. He admitted guilt during the proceedings. Rachabalizoda, 30, is married with a child and likewise reported no criminal history. Both acknowledged their responsibility in the attack.
The other two suspects brought before the Basmani Moscow court on Sunday after detention in the Briansk region were Fariduni Shamsudin and Muhammadsobir Faizov. Faizov, 19, wore a hospital gown and was escorted by two doctors after being injured during arrest. Shamsudin said he worked at a factory in the Moscow region and has an eight‑month-old child. Faizov, who is unmarried, previously worked as a barber in Ivanovo and is now unemployed.
According to the latest figures, the Friday night attack left 137 dead. The number of injured rose from 154 to 180 on Sunday. Russian media reported that some survivors took more than a day to seek medical help due to shock. Authorities have detained 11 people connected to the attack, four of whom took part in the killings themselves.