Russia Blames Ukraine for Moscow Concert Hall Attack
Russia on Tuesday sought to shift blame for the Moscow concert hall attack onto Ukraine and its Western backers, despite the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group claiming responsibility for the massacre of at least 139 people.
Kremlin’s Response
The Kremlin’s security services have been scrambling to explain how gunmen managed last Friday to carry out the worst attack in Russia in over two decades. President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged that “radical Islamists” perpetrated the bloody assault, but suggested they were linked to Ukraine, two years into the Kremlin’s invasion of that country.
Accusations and Denials
Alexander Bortnikov, the head of Russia’s Federal Security Service, stated that while those who had “ordered” the attack had not been identified, the assailants were heading to Ukraine and would have been “greeted as heroes.” He mentioned that the action was prepared by radical Islamists and facilitated by Western special services, with direct connections to Ukraine’s special services.
Rejection by Ukraine
Ukraine has fiercely rejected any accusations from Moscow, with a top aide to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stating that the Kremlin was attempting to cover up the “incompetence” of its intelligence agencies.
Belarusian Perspective
Russia’s ally Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko contradicted the Kremlin’s narrative, mentioning that the attackers tried to enter Belarus first before heading to Ukraine.
International Reactions
French President Emmanuel Macron warned Moscow against exploiting the attack to blame Kyiv, stating that Paris had information implicating the jihadists responsible for the massacre.
Legal Proceedings
A court in Moscow remanded an eighth suspect in custody over the attack, bringing the total number of detainees to 11. The latest suspect, originally from Kyrgyzstan, was ordered to be held in detention until at least May 22.
