4 Men Charged In Moscow Attack Tortured And Admitted Guilt

Four men accused of staging the Russia concert hall attack that killed more than 150 people appeared before a Moscow court Sunday showing signs of severe beatings as they faced formal terrorism charges.

The alleged perpetrators appeared to be tortured during interrogation as Mirzoyev, Rachabalizoda, and Fariduni were heavily bruised, their faces swollen, while Rachabalizoda also had a heavily bandaged ear, his ear cut off by his interrogators. I Photo: Russian Federation CCTV Camera

One appeared to be barely conscious during the hearing, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

A court statement said two of the suspects accepted their guilt in the assault after being charged in the preliminary hearing, though the men’s condition raised questions about whether they were speaking freely.

There had been earlier conflicting reports in Russian media outlets that said three or all four men admitted culpability.

Moscow’s Basmanny District Court formally charged Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, 32; Saidakrami Rachabalizoda, 30; Shamsidin Fariduni, 25; and Mukhammadsobir Faizov, 19, with committing a group terrorist attack resulting in the death of others.

The offense carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The court ordered that the men, all of whom are citizens of Tajikistan, be held in pre-trial custody until May 22.

Russian media had reported that the men were tortured during interrogation, and Mirzoyev, Rachabalizoda, and Fariduni were heavily bruised, their faces swollen. Rachabalizoda also had a heavily bandaged ear, his ear cut off by his interrogators.

The fourth suspect, Faizov, was brought to court from a hospital in a wheelchair and sat with his eyes closed throughout the proceedings.

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