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Presentation of the suspects in the Moscow court: “Signs of violent acts”
Photo: Olga Maltseva / AFP
Two days after the attack on a concert hall near Moscow, Russian authorities presented the first four suspects - who showed visible signs of violence. But when asked about possible torture against the suspects, the Kremlin remained silent.
A CNN journalist confronted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov with the suggestion that the detained suspects showed "signs of violent acts." "I'll leave this question unanswered," Peskov replied, according to Russian media, when asked to comment on the detainees' torture marks.
At least 137 people were killed in Friday's attack. Masked attackers broke into the packed Crocus City Hall in the Moscow suburb of Krasnogorsk and opened fire. Shortly after the attack, the jihadist militia “Islamic State” (IS) claimed responsibility.
Bandage on the head, arrival in a wheelchair
On Sunday evening, the first suspects were formally accused by the Basmanny District Court of participating in a terrorist attack. They therefore face life imprisonment.
In pictures from the court, which the independent media “Mediazona English” published on X, it can be seen that violence was inflicted on the suspects. A suspected perpetrator appears in court with a large bandage on his head. His ear is said to have been cut off beforehand. A third suspect has to be pushed into the courtroom in a wheelchair in the presence of doctors.
According to the AP news agency, two of the four men are said to have confessed to the crime. However, given the condition of the suspects, it seems questionable whether the statements were made voluntarily.
All four suspects are to be remanded in custody for two months on the order of the court. The court announced this on Telegram and the Interfax news agency, citing the court.
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