Moscow wants terror trial moved to courts with the death penalty
RUSSIA is planning to move the trial of the four Crocus City Hall terror suspects to neighbouring Belarus to allow the death penalty to be enforced, it emerged yesterday.
Talks are underway between the two countries, according to Moscow MP Maria Butina who is loyal to president Vladimir Putin.
Kremlin authorities have already indicated they may seek to execute the four – though in mainland Russia the death penalty currently has a moratorium on it.
Belarus remains the only European country where execution is still used. Two Belarusians were among the 144 killed in the atrocity, which is seen as giving a pretext to hold a separate trial in Belarus which is part of a “union state” with Russia.
Under Belarusian law, a condemned man – women cannot be executed – is blindfolded and forced to kneel before a shot is administered to the back of the head.
Putin’s security council deputy Dmitry Medvedev has already said it was “necessary” to kill the men if found guilty. And Ms Butina said: “The competent authorities are already working on this matter.” Meanwhile, Russia continues to accuse Ukraine of being behind the March 22 attack, despite Islamic State claiming responsibility.
It has demanded several people, including Kyiv’s head of intelligence Vasil Malyuk, be handed over.
The Kremlin’s foreign ministry said Mr Malyuk admitted to “organising the bombing of the Crimean Bridge in October 2022” and “revealed details of the organisation of other terrorist attacks in Russia”.
Ukraine yesterday dismissed all of Moscow’s claims, saying it was particularly “cynical coming from the terrorist state itself” and “pointless”.