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.
Ingush native Dzhabrail Aushev, sentenced to life in prison for illegal arms and ammunition trafficking in the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack, attempted suicide in the Krasnaya Presnya transit prison. Doctors managed to save him.
Another participant in the case, Yakubdzhoni Yusufzoda, accused of financing the terrorist attack, committed suicide in the Matrosskaya Tishina pretrial detention center.
The Moscow City Court recently handed down verdicts in this case. Four of the direct perpetrators—Shamsiddin Fariduni, Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, Makhammadsobir Fayzov, and Saidakram Rachabolizoda—were given life sentences. The same sentence was handed down to Ingush natives Dzhabrail Aushev, Khusein Medov, and nine other defendants. The defense for the latter two denies involvement in the terrorist attack, but acknowledges the illegal trafficking of weapons, the ultimate destination of which the defendants allegedly did not know.
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 group Vilayat Khorasan, affiliated with the Islamic State, claimed responsibility.