(Moscow) Russia claimed Thursday to have “proof” that the perpetrators of the attack which left 143 dead near Moscow had links with “Ukrainian nationalists”, accusations described by Washington as “absurd propaganda”.
The attack, which took place Friday evening in a large concert hall, was claimed by the jihadist organization Islamic State (IS), but Russian officials say Ukraine and the West were the instigators.
Kyiv and its allies deny any involvement in this killing and believe that the Kremlin, in the midst of an armed conflict against Ukraine, is seeking to blame the latter for political reasons.
The Investigative Committee, the body responsible for the main criminal investigations in Russia, affirmed Thursday in this context that it had new elements proving, according to it, a Ukrainian lead.
“Work with detained terrorists, examination of technical devices seized from them and analysis of information on financial transactions made it possible to obtain evidence of their links with Ukrainian nationalists,” the Committee assured on Telegram.
According to this organization, the four attackers also received “large sums of money and cryptocurrencies from Ukraine, which were used in the preparation of this crime”.
Investigators, who have not published any document or element to corroborate these statements, also announced the arrest of a new suspect, accused of having participated in the “financing” of the attack.
Authorities previously reported the arrest of 11 people, including the four suspected attackers. Eight were charged and remanded in custody.
“Dung merchants”
Russian leaders are “dung merchants” trying to spread “absurd propaganda” about the attack in the suburbs of the Russian capital, for which ISIS is “solely responsible”, the White House reacted on Thursday.
John Kirby, the National Security Council spokesman, said his farmer uncle “used to say that the best manure dealers often carry their samples in their mouths” and added: “Russian officials seem to be quite good dung merchants.”
On March 22, gunmen attacked Crocus City Hall near Moscow, opening fire on spectators and causing a huge fire. This attack, the deadliest in the last twenty years in Russia, left at least 143 dead and 360 injured, including children.
According to President Vladimir Putin, the four attackers were arrested in Russia’s Bryansk region while trying to flee to Ukraine, where a “window” allowing them to cross the border had been prepared on the Ukrainian side.
The director of the Russian security services (FSB), Alexander Bortnikov, assured that the Ukrainian and Western secret services had “facilitated” the attack.
Ukraine vigorously denies any involvement in this massacre, accusing Moscow of wanting to “blame” it on Kyiv. The United States said it warned Russia in March that a terrorist attack was likely to target large gatherings in Moscow.
Putin does not plan to meet victims’ families
PHOTO MIKHAIL METZEL, VIA REUTERS
Vladimir Putin also did not go to the scene so as not to “interfere with the work” of the rescuers, according to the president’s spokesperson, Dmitri Peskov.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has no immediate plans to meet the families of the victims of the Crocus City Hall attack in Moscow.
“If contacts are necessary, we will inform you,” replied the president’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, when asked by journalists whether Mr. Putin planned to meet the victims’ relatives.
According to Mr. Peskov, Vladimir Putin also did not go to the scene so as not to “interfere with the work” of the rescuers.
“As for the families and loved ones of the victims, very close work was organized with them by all the services and specialists concerned (…) All this was done as quickly as possible. This work continues,” Mr. Peskov said.
reference: www.lapresse.ca