Putin Reveals Mastermind Behind Moscow Terror Attack

In a recent video conference with Russian law enforcement officials, President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia knows who carried out the bloody terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall and is currently investigating who ordered it. Putin began the meeting by attributing the gruesome attack, which claimed the lives of 137 people on March 22, to “extremist Islamic radicals.” However, according to Reuters, the Russian leader believes that Ukraine and Kiev may have had some involvement in the incident, suggesting it could be in their interests.

“Moscow is trying to cover up their Kiev-based operatives by emphasizing that Ukraine has nothing to do with the terrorist attack, and the responsible party is the Islamic State,” Putin emphasized. Russian law enforcement agencies are currently investigating the detained suspects involved in the attack. Putin also reiterated that the terrorists had attempted to flee and move towards Ukraine, raising crucial questions that need answers.

The Russian leader questioned, “Who benefits from this?,” suggesting that the attack on Crocus City Hall may be just a small piece in the ongoing efforts of those who have been waging war against Russia since 2014 under the new regime in Kiev. Putin believes that the purpose of the attack is to “sow chaos” and that it serves certain interests in Kiev. He also mentioned that amidst Russia’s ongoing military operations in Ukraine, the attack could be intended to show the Ukrainian people that the Kiev government hasn’t lost everything.

In response to Putin’s statement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated via video conference that there is no link between Kiev and the terrorist attack on March 22, completely refuting Putin’s claims. Zelenskiy emphasized that Putin’s statement is baseless.

New Developments on the Perpetrators of the Attack

According to RT, the Basmanny Court in Moscow has arrested three additional suspects believed to be involved in the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall. These individuals, Ainchon Islomov, Dilovar Islomov, and their father Isroil Islomov (62 years old), are accused of organizing the terrorist act. Currently, they are being held in custody until May 22. Russian investigators believe that Shamsidin Fariduni, one of the four gunmen directly involved in the shooting at Crocus City Hall, recruited Ainchon Islomov in January and Dilovar Islomov before March 11 to carry out the terrorist attack. Dilovar Islomov is alleged to be the owner of the white Renault vehicle used as a getaway car after the shooting.

In another related development, RBC reported on March 25 that, according to a Turkish security source, the terrorists behind the Crocus City Hall attack had briefly entered Turkey before the attack to “renew their stay permit in Russia.” The source stated that two of the attackers left Turkey for Moscow on the same flight on March 2. At that time, there were no arrest warrants for these individuals, allowing them to freely move between countries.

Uncertainty Over the Fate of the Four Gunmen

Calls for imposing the death penalty on the terrorists responsible for the Crocus City Hall attack are growing in Russia. However, it is worth noting that Russia currently has a law prohibiting the implementation of the death penalty. Supporters of this initiative, including Leonid Slutsky, the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, argue that an exception should be made for the four individuals who carried out the bloody terrorist act on March 22.

Vladimir Vasiliev, the head of the “United Russia” faction in the Russian State Duma, stated that the proposal to reinstate the death penalty for terrorism-related offenses “will be carefully considered,” and the decision will “reflect the sentiments and expectations of Russian society.”

According to RT, although the Russian Criminal Code theoretically allows for the death penalty, in practice, courts are prohibited from handing down such sentences. Andrey Klishas, the head of the Russian Federation Council’s Committee on Constitutional Law, stated that the reintroduction of the death penalty is legally impossible, as both chambers of the Russian Parliament “cannot overcome the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Russia on the issue of the death penalty.”

Regarding the issue, Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the Russian President’s Office, stated that the Kremlin does not participate in discussions on the abolition of the ban on the implementation of the death penalty in Russia, stating, “We do not participate in these discussions,” as reported by TASS.

Valery Zorkin, the head of the Russian Constitutional Court, stated that the Russian Constitution enshrines the right to life for all citizens, guaranteeing the right to “not be sentenced to death.” Reintroducing the death penalty would require the adoption of a new constitution.

This article was written for Business Today, the leading source for finance and economic news.