Lawyers assigned to those accused of the Moscow massacre receive threats to cut off their ears

“The major terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall has caused a huge outcry in society. But it is a test of legal culture. Will we get through this? Perhaps this is one of the main challenges of our time,” pointed out Merkačjevová in her post.

The TASS agency previously wrote that no lawyer volunteered to defend those accused of the Krasnogorsk massacre. Thus, they were arrested by state-appointed attorneys ex officio. “Surprisingly, even among people with a law license, there are those who think they should have turned it down. The catch is that this is practically impossible,” Merkačjevová wrote now.

The Islamic State is 95 percent behind the attack near Moscow. But doubts remain

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Photo: Profimedia.cz

The trial of those accused of the terrorist attack in Krasnogorsk, Russia

She added that lawyers were initially given a document that listed only the last name of the accused with no other details, while the names of those accused in the Crocus City Hall shooting were not initially known publicly. According to her, the moment the lawyer accepts the defense, Merkačjevová cannot back down. “Terrorist lawyers could not turn away their clients without risking their law license. If, in addition, all the lawyers refused, the trial itself would not have to take place,” added Merkačjevová.

The Kremlin did not want to comment on the torture

Four suspects in the Crocus City Hall terror attack were arrested on the night of March 25, a few hours after the massacre that left 139 dead and many injured at last count. The four accused Tajiks, Dalerjon Barotovič Mirzoyev, Sajdakrami Murodali Račabalizoda, Muhammadsobir Fajzov and Šamsudin Fariduni, appeared before the court with heavy bruises.

One was brought in in a wheelchair, another had a bandaged ear, which, according to an unconfirmed video circulating online, was cut off after his arrest. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later declined to answer a question about whether those arrested had been tortured.

In connection with the attack in Krasnogorsk, which was claimed by the Islamic State terrorist group, at least eight other people were also arrested on suspicion of aiding the terrorists.