Nineteen individuals have received prison sentences following the deadliest mass shooting in Russia in two decades, an attack that killed 149 people and injured more than 500 at a concert near Moscow.
A Russian military court handed life sentences to four gunmen and 11 accomplices, while four others received terms ranging from 19 to 22 years, according to state media reports.
The attack occurred on March 22, 2024 at the Crocus City Concert Hall on the outskirts of Moscow, where roughly 6,000 people had gathered for a rock concert. Gunmen opened fire on the crowd before setting parts of the venue ablaze, causing the roof to collapse.
Many victims died from bullet wounds, while others succumbed to smoke inhalation.
The four men convicted of carrying out the shooting are all citizens of Tajikistan. The 11 who received life sentences were found guilty of providing money, weapons, or support to the gunmen, or for maintaining links with terrorist organizations.
The remaining four defendants were convicted of helping the attackers by selling them a car or assisting with renting an apartment. It remains unclear whether any of the convicts will appeal their sentences.
The trial, conducted behind closed doors, has raised concerns over the conditions in which the defendants appeared. When first brought to court two years ago, the men displayed visible signs of having been beaten, and one required a wheelchair to attend proceedings.
The Islamic State affiliate IS-K claimed responsibility for the attack and released video evidence showing the gunmen targeting the crowd.
IS-K is a branch of the Islamic State operating across Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran, with the aim of establishing a Muslim caliphate.
Russian authorities have repeatedly accused Ukraine of involvement in the attack, allegations that Kyiv strongly denies.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said it was "absolutely predictable" that Russian President Vladimir Putin would blame Ukraine. So far, Russia has provided no evidence linking Ukraine to the tragedy.
Graphic footage released by IS-K, verified by international media, depicts the attackers firing at the audience inside the concert hall. The massacre remains a stark reminder of the growing reach of extremist groups in the region and the ongoing security challenges facing Russia and its neighbours.
