Russia’s Justice Ministry has designated lawyer and Circassian activist Rustam Khuazhev as a “foreign agent”. The ministry also added Zhanna Nemtsova, the daughter of murdered opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, as well as the information resources Team Navalny and Reanimation to the same register.
A prisoner being transported on a Vladikavkaz–Adler train attacked a Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) officer, seized his service weapon and opened fire. One officer was killed and three others were injured. The attacker was shot dead.
The incident occurred on the evening of 2 October near Murtazovo station in the city of Terek, Kabardino-Balkaria. According to the FSIN, the prisoner was taken out of the carriage and brought to a toilet, where he attacked an escort officer and took his weapon. A shooting then broke out, and other members of the escort detail shot and killed the attacker.
The first reports of the incident appeared on the 112 Telegram channel and REN TV. They claimed that a riot had broken out in the carriage, with prisoners allegedly pulling the emergency brake, barricading themselves inside and refusing to hand over injured FSIN officers. According to those reports, security forces surrounded the train, while emergency services and special forces were sent to the scene.
The 112 channel later reported that one of the prisoners had been killed. The FSIN denied that there had been a riot and insisted that the attack had been carried out by a single individual.
According to 112, one of the injured officers is in intensive care in serious condition. A second suffered third-degree shock and a pneumothorax, while the third sustained non-penetrating injuries.
The Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case, while the FSIN is conducting an internal inquiry. The agency said no civilians were injured. The names of the deceased and injured officers, as well as the identity of the attacker, have not been officially disclosed.
The Telegram channels Baza and Mash have published additional details about the prisoner. According to the channels, he had been convicted under an article relating to illegal drug trafficking. Baza reported that the man was 33 years old, while Mash said that 15 prisoners had been travelling in the carriage. This information has not been officially confirmed.
The FSIN expressed its condolences to the family of the deceased officer and said it would provide assistance to his relatives and the injured officers.