Representatives of the Council of Europe have called on Azerbaijani authorities to release human rights defender Anar Mammadli, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Specifically, PACE rapporteur on political prisoners Azadeh Rojhan asserts that his prosecution is political in nature and that fundamental principles of a fair trial were violated during the proceedings.
The panel of judges of the 2nd Western District Military Court in the Moscow City Court handed down verdicts in the Crocus terrorist attack case. The four perpetrators of the attack—Shamsiddin Fariduni, Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, Makhammadsobir Fayzov, and Saidakram Rachabolizod—were given life sentences. Similar sentences were given to Ingush natives Dzhabrail Aushev, Khusein Medov, and nine other defendants.
Four other defendants were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 19 years, 11 months to 22.5 years. The Russian Investigative Committee (IC) claims that the terrorist attack was "planned and carried out in the interests of Ukraine."
A total of four natives of Ingushetia are implicated in the case, including Khavazh-Bagaudin Aliyev and Batyr Kulayev, who are wanted by the police. Investigators believe they, like Aushev and Medov, supplied weapons to terrorists. Representatives for the defendants deny their involvement in the terrorist attack but acknowledge that their clients were involved in the illegal trafficking of weapons without knowing their intended purpose.
The terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall occurred on the evening of March 22, 2024, shortly before a concert by the band Piknik. Four people opened fire on patrons and then set the building on fire. As a result, 150 people were killed and over 600 were injured to varying degrees. The Vilayat Khorasan group, affiliated with the Islamic State, claimed responsibility.