Five defendants arrested in Istanbul were charged with 'terrorism' and 'participation in a terrorist organization', reported the Turkish state agency Anadolu.
In the indictment prepared by the Bureau for the Investigation of Terrorist Crimes at the Istanbul Prosecutor General's Office, it is stated that the accused Hofizjon Usmonov, Muteullo Asoev, Rahmatullo Salikov, Muhammadrahim Faizov* and Hamza Muhammad maintained contact with Shamsiddin Fariduni* and Saidakrami Rajabalizoda*, the perpetrators of the attack in Moscow.
As stated in the indictment, Tajik citizen Faizov entered Turkey through Istanbul airport on January 5, 2024, with his wife, child, and Rajabalizoda, one of the perpetrators of the attack in Moscow. Meanwhile, Faizov and Usmonov lived for some time with another attacker Fariduni in an 'ISIS** safe house'.
Usmonov, Salikov, and Asoev were detained on March 24, 2024, while attempting to leave for Iran by bus. Security forces organized an operation after it was established that the number used by Fariduni, one of the perpetrators of the attack, was linked to the accused Usmonov. Faizov and his family managed to board a bus to the Iranian border on March 28.
The agency cites correspondence between the accused Asoev and one of the perpetrators of the attack. In particular, Asoev offers a task — a bomb needs to be planted in the Vegas shopping center. The militants were promised a bomb, and 800,000 rubles for the attack: 100,000 in advance and 700,000 after completing the task. Meanwhile, allegedly, the perpetrator of the attack in the correspondence expresses fears that he will be caught and killed. According to the correspondence quoted by the agency, Asoev promised that after planting the bomb, an ISIS person would pick up the perpetrator and take him to the Belarusian border. The perpetrator was also promised new documents and help with housing.
As a result of the terrorist attack on the concert hall 'Crocus City Hall' on March 22 of this year, 145 people died. In total, more than 20 people were arrested in the case.
* Included in the list of 'terrorists and extremists'.
** Recognized as a terrorist organization.
Photo: TASS