Daria Trepova, the woman accused of organizing a deadly attack that killed the military commander Vladlen Tatarsky, whose real name is Maxim Fomin, expressed remorse about the events. On Monday, April 24, the Moscow City Court reviewed her complaint concerning the detention. The statement followed a request by the investigator to hold the hearing behind closed doors, citing materials in the case that are part of the preliminary investigation as secret.
Trepova stated that she objected to the meeting being closed and added that she was deeply sorry for what happened. She also said she prays daily for the health of the victims. She did not address whether she admitted guilt during the proceedings.
Afterwards, the Moscow City Court granted the investigator’s request for an investigation, and the public was asked to leave the courtroom.
Earlier, on April 4, the Basmanny District Court in Moscow ordered Trepova held until June 2, 2023. The defense had requested an alternative preventive measure not involving deprivation of liberty. The lawyer later appealed the arrest decision, but the appeal was denied, leaving Trepova in pre-trial detention until June 2.
According to an anonymous Telegram source, ShotTrepova allegedly adopted “repentance” as her defense strategy in the hope of shortening the sentence and presenting herself as more cooperative to authorities at the Lefortovo pre-trial detention center.
The publication described Trepova’s behavior as somewhat different during interrogations and noted that she referred to the killing of Tatarsky as a routine event.
Terrorist attack in St. Petersburg
On April 2, the military commander Vladlen Tatarsky, also known as Vladlen Tatarsky, died in an explosion at a cafe in St. Petersburg. Official figures indicated that 40 people were injured, including three children.
At Street Food Bar No. 1, an explosive device exploded at the venue during a public event. The blast released more than 200 grams of TNT and contained additional shrapnel designed to maximize harm.
At that time, the venue was hosting a literary and artistic evening featuring Tatarsky, who had gained prominence through commentary on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and related military operations.
The explosive device exploded near the stage and was hidden inside a figurine that Trepova allegedly presented to Tatarsky.
Trepova, a native of St. Petersburg, was placed on a wanted list and arrested on April 3. She later admitted that the figurine was brought to the event by her.
In 2022, Trepova attended an unsanctioned rally on the day of the incident, February 24, and received administrative detention for 10 days from the Krasnoselsky District Court and the St. Petersburg City Court.
Reports from the United Kingdom indicated that the organization of the attack was planned from Ukrainian territory. Trepova faced charges under paragraph “b” of part 3 of Article 205 for an act of terrorism carried out by an organized group resulting in the deliberate killing of a person, and part 4 of Article 222.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation for transporting illegal explosive devices as part of an organized group.