Suspects on trial over Moscow venue attack that killed 149
Nineteen people went on trial in Moscow on Monday over an attack on a city concert hall that killed 149 people in one of the deadliest strikes in Russia.
Article content
Armed men stormed the Crocus City Hall on the outskirts of Moscow on March 22, 2024, opening fire and then setting the building alight, injuring hundreds of people.
Article content
Article content
Article content
One of them, Tatiana Ruzanova, told AFP she came to the court to see the defendants.
Article content
'They all sit quietly with their heads slumped in cages… I didn't see if they felt guilty, they all had their heads down,' Ruzanova said.
Article content
On the night of the attack, she came to the concert of the Russian rock group Piknik with a friend but did not make it inside the hall.
Article content
'We saw everyone already in the foyer, maybe that saved us. We inhaled smoke. It was a miracle that we didn't make it,' Ruzanova said.
Article content
Closed-door trial
Article content
Subsequent hearings were to take place on Tuesday and Thursday, according to the court's website.
Article content
The judge ordered the trial to proceed behind closed doors.
Article content
Article content
The attack shocked Russia, which has been battling Ukraine in a military offensive since February 24, 2022.
Article content
Despite IS claiming responsibility, Russia implicated Ukraine in the attack, an allegation that Kyiv called baseless and absurd.
Article content
Article content
The massacre ignited a debate about the reintroduction of the death penalty. Some hardline politicians publicly called for a moratorium, observed since 1996, to be lifted.
Article content
It also sparked a wave of xenophobia against central Asian migrants in Russia.
Article content
Nearly half of the victims were killed by smoke and carbon monoxide inhalation from the fire that broke out, rather than from gunshot wounds, the state TASS news agency reported on Sunday, citing case materials.
Article content
Ekaterina Klimenko, who survived the attack, told AFP she hoped for a 'fair decision' from the judges.
Article content
'I still go to concerts, but intuitively I look around with my eyes to see if there is any danger,' she said.
Article content
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Trump says he intends to meet Putin and Zelenskyy as early as next week, following Witkoff trip to Moscow
In this combination of file photos, President Donald Trump, left, and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center, are seen at the Elysee Palace, Dec. 7, 2024 in Paris, and President Vladimir Putin, right, addresses a Technology Forum in Moscow, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, left and center, Pavel Bednyakov, right, File) New sanctions against Russia will still kick in on Friday, the White House said, even as U.S. President Donald Trump praised a meeting between U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Vladimir Putin as 'highly productive' – and said he was open to meeting the Russian leader as early as next week. Trump wrote on social media that 'great progress was made' in the Wednesday meeting, adding that he has already updated some of America's European allies. Trump told European leaders in a phone call that he intended to meet soon with Putin – potentially as early as next week – followed by a trilateral meeting with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to two sources familiar with the call. A European government source also confirmed the contents of the call. One White House official noted that while Trump said he intended to meet with Putin as early as next week, it would likely be difficult to execute a meeting on that timeline given the negotiating that would have to be done, as well as the logistical hurdles. 'The Russians expressed their desire to meet with President Trump, and the president is open to meeting with both President Putin and President Zelenskyy. President Trump wants this brutal war to end,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. A White House official said earlier on Wednesday that 'the secondary sanctions are still expected to be implemented on Friday.' The Putin-Witkoff meeting, which Russian state media said lasted around three hours, took place after a frustrated Trump imposed a deadline on Moscow to agree to a ceasefire or face tough secondary sanctions, hitting countries that buy Russian oil with a 100 per cent tariff. Oil and gas revenues are a key source of cash for the Kremlin, making up roughly a quarter of Russia's government budget, so losing customers would be painful – and could hurt Moscow's ability to finance the its war on Ukraine. The Kremlin had earlier described the meeting between Witkoff and Putin as 'constructive and useful,' according to Russian state media TASS. 'Putin conveyed some signals to the United States on the Ukrainian issue. Corresponding signals were also received from President Trump,' state media outlet RIA Novosti reported, citing the Kremlin. The Kremlin said it would release more information on what was discussed after Witkoff reports back to Trump, RIA said in a post on social media. Zelenskyy, who spoke to Trump following the Witkoff-Putin meeting, said 'it seems that Russia is now more inclined toward (a) ceasefire).' 'The pressure on Russia is working. But the main thing is that they do not deceive us in the details. Neither us, nor the United States,' the Ukrainian leader said during his nightly video address to the nation. Trump also spoke with Zelenskyy on Tuesday, ahead of Witkoff's trip, to discuss potential U.S. sanctions against Russia. Trump growing impatient with Putin Earlier in the day, the U.S. envoy was greeted at the airport in Moscow by Russia's investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev. Video later posted by the Kremlin showed Witkoff shaking hands with Putin ahead of their meeting. Trump has grown increasingly impatient with Russia's resistance to his peace efforts. Since the last meeting between Witkoff and Putin in April, Russia has ramped up its assault on Ukraine, attacking cities with an onslaught of missiles and drones. Trump has called Russia's attacks 'disgusting' and has accused Putin of peddling 'bullsh*t' in their tense phone conversations. Prior to Wednesday's meeting, Trump said that he would wait for the outcome of the talks to decide whether or not to impose new sanctions on Russia. 'We're going to see what happens,' the president said at the White House. 'We'll make that determination at that time.' Hours after the meeting in Moscow, Trump imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on India as punishment for its imports of Russian oil, according to a document posted on the White House website. Trump earlier this week threatened India with the new tariffs, saying they were helping Russia wage war in Ukraine. 'India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the oil purchased, selling it on the open market for big profits. They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine,' he wrote on social media. 'Cruelty aimed at instilling fear' As diplomacy was underway in the Kremlin, Ukraine was once again left reeling following a spate of Russian attacks across the country overnight into Wednesday. At least six people were killed in strikes carried out by Moscow in the 24 hours before Wednesday morning, including the deadly bombing of a recreation centre in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack on the centre, where two people died and four children were among the 12 wounded, as having 'zero military sense,' calling it 'just cruelty aimed at instilling fear.' A gas compressor station that helps Ukraine receive U.S. and Azerbaijani energy imports was also attacked overnight, according to the country's energy ministry. The gas transmission facility in the town of Novosilske, which is close to the border with Romania in Ukraine's southern Odesa region, was targeted by dozens of strike drones, the ministry said. 'Hundreds of families were left without gas,' Zelenskyy said in a statement. 'This was a deliberate blow to our preparations for the heating season – absolutely cynical, like every Russian strike on our energy infrastructure.' Meanwhile, Ukraine also said Wednesday morning that the U.S. State Department has signed off on a US$200 million deal which will allow its partners to purchase military supplies on its behalf, including technical support for heavy artillery. The U.S. has not yet commented. On Tuesday, Zelenskyy welcomed pledges from NATO members worth more than $1 billion, through an initiative in which four of Ukraine's European allies – the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Sweden – will purchase US-made weapons for Kyiv.
CBC
4 hours ago
- CBC
What to expect following U.S. envoy, Putin ceasefire talks in Moscow
Marcus Kolga, a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, says 'it's only with significant pressure' that the U.S. and Russia will 'arrive at a meaningful ceasefire.' This comes after U.S. special envoy Steve Wtikoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine.
CTV News
4 hours ago
- CTV News
Trump envoy Witkoff meets Putin ahead of Russia-Ukraine peace deadline
This photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik shows Vladimir Putin and Steve Witkoff in Moscow. Photographer:Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Wednesday, days before the White House's deadline for Russia to reach a peace deal with Ukraine or potentially face severe economic penalties that could also hit countries buying its oil. The meeting between Putin and Witkoff lasted about three hours, the Kremlin said. Putin's foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said that Putin and Witkoff had a 'useful and constructive conversation' that focused on the Ukrainian crisis and, in a nod toward improving relations between Washington and Moscow, 'prospects for possible development of strategic cooperation' between the United States and Russia. Trump said in a post on his Truth Social media network that Witkoff 'had a highly productive meeting' with Putin in which 'great progress was made.' Trump said he updated America's allies in Europe about the meeting and that they will work toward an end to the Russia-Ukraine war 'in the days and weeks to come.' The threat of U.S. sanctions Earlier on Wednesday, a White House official said the U.S. was still expected to impose secondary sanctions against Russia on Friday, after a 10-day deadline that Trump imposed is to expire. The White House has not yet released details about the sanctions. The official was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Washington has threatened 'severe tariffs' and other economic penalties if the killing doesn't stop. Trump also has threatened to slap tariffs on nations that buy Russian oil, which could increase import taxes dramatically on China and India He said Tuesday he hadn't publicly committed to any particular tariff rate, and indicated that his decision could depend on an outcome of the meeting with Putin. Trump has expressed increasing frustration with Putin over Russia's escalating strikes on civilian areas of Ukraine, intended to erode morale and public appetite for the war. The intensified attacks have occurred even as Trump has urged the Russian leader in recent months to relent. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday evening that he and Trump spoke on the phone after Witkoff met with Putin. He said 'European leaders also participated in the conversation,' and 'we discussed what was said in Moscow.' 'Our common position with our partners is absolutely clear: The war must end,' Zelenskyy said. 'We all need lasting and reliable peace. Russia must end the war that it started.' He didn't offer any details of the conversation. The fighting grinds on Overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, Russian forces hit a recreational center in Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia region, killing two people and injuring 12, including two children, regional Gov. Ivan Fedorov said Wednesday. Russian forces launched at least four strikes on the area and initially attacked with powerful glide bombs. 'There is zero military sense in this strike. Only cruelty to intimidate,' Zelenskyy said in a post on Telegram. Russia also struck the Ukrainian power grid and facilities for heating and cooking gas, Zelenskyy said, as Ukraine makes preparations for winter. Western analysts and Ukrainian officials say Putin is stalling for time and avoiding serious negotiations while Russian forces push to capture more Ukraine land. A Russian offensive that started in the spring and is expected to continue through the fall is advancing faster than last year's push but is making only slow and costly gains and has been unable to take any major cities. The situation on the front line is critical for Ukrainian forces but defenses are not about to collapse, analysts say. Risks of more pressure Stepping up diplomatic and economic pressure on the Kremlin risks stoking international tensions amid worsening Russia-U.S. relations. Putin has given no hint that he might be ready to make concessions. Instead, the Russian leader and senior Kremlin officials have talked up the country's military strength. Putin announced last week that Russia's new hypersonic missile, which he says cannot be intercepted by current NATO air defense systems, has entered service. Russia announced Tuesday that it no longer regards itself as bound by a self-imposed moratorium on the deployment of nuclear-capable intermediate range missiles, a warning that potentially sets the stage for a new arms race. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, meantime, warned that the Ukraine war could bring Russia and the U.S. into armed conflict. Trump responded to that by ordering the repositioning of two U.S. nuclear submarines. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday welcomed Witkoff's visit. 'We consider (talks with Witkoff) important, substantive and very useful,' he said. Trump initially gave Moscow a 50-day deadline, but later moved up his ultimatum as the Kremlin continued to bomb Ukrainian cities. However, Trump himself doubted their effectiveness, saying Sunday that Russia has proven to be 'pretty good at avoiding sanctions.' 'They're wily characters,' he said of the Russians. The Kremlin has insisted that international sanctions imposed since its February 2022 invasion of its neighbor have had a limited impact. Ukraine maintains the sanctions are taking their toll on Moscow's war machine and wants Western allies to ramp them up. Associated Press reporter Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed to this report.
