The Russian domestic secret service FSB accuses Western secret services of having a hand in the devastating attack near Moscow. “We believe that the action was prepared both by the Islamists themselves and by the Western secret services,” said FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov.
According to the FSB, the person who carried out the attack has not yet been identified. However, Russia knows who organized the attacks. Bortnikov repeated accusations that the attackers planned to flee to Ukraine. There they should have been greeted “as heroes”.
FSB: West and Ukraine wanted to cause panic in Russia
Secret services of Western countries and Ukraine needed the attack that killed almost 140 people to cause panic in Russia, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted the chief of the secret service as saying on Tuesday. The Ukrainian services are “directly involved”.
“IS or Ukraine?” – “Of course Ukraine”
Despite credible Islamist claims of responsibility, Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of Russia’s National Security Council, has also attributed responsibility to Ukraine. Russian news portal Shot showed a video in which a reporter asks Patrushev about those responsible: “IS or Ukraine?” Patrushev replies: “Of course Ukraine” (see below). He later came back and said the investigation was still ongoing.
Once again, Ukraine immediately rejected the accusations. These are lies, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s advisor Mychailo Podolyak explained on X. “The lies are officially spread by Patrushev and then by FSB boss Bortnikov.”
The Kremlin is also left cold by several confessions from IS
The terrorist militia IS has already claimed responsibility for the attack near Moscow several times. Western security authorities and experts also believe this to be credible and suspect that the IS branch of the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISPK) is behind this. Nevertheless, Russian officials have been claiming for days, without providing any evidence, that Ukraine could be involved.
Another suspect in custody
Four days after the attack, an eighth suspect was taken into custody on Tuesday. The Kyrgyz man of Russian nationality is accused of harboring the four suspected attackers from Tajikistan, Tass news agency reported. However, in court the 31-year-old denied knowledge of the attack plans. He thought the Tajiks were normal tenants.
Comeback for the death penalty in Russia?
The head of parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, believes that the reintroduction of the death penalty in Russia can happen soon. “In our constitution and criminal law, no one has abolished the death penalty,” Volodin said during a parliamentary session. The Constitutional Court can decide on the application; referendums or other decisions are not necessary. There is currently a moratorium on the use of the death penalty in Russia.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
