Moldovan citizen among victims of Moscow gun attack
A citizen of the Republic of Moldova died as a result of the massacre in the evening of March 22, in the premises of the Crocus City Hall Center in the city of Moscow.
The information was confirmed by the press office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"We hereby extend our sincere and deepest condolences to the bereaved family, relatives and friends. The Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in Moscow is in permanent contact with the local authorities, being available to undertake all the necessary consular actions", says a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
How it all happened
An attack on Friday night, March 22, at Crocus, a popular concert venue complex near Moscow, left more than 130 people dead and many more injured after attackers stormed the venue with guns and incendiary devices. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, without providing evidence.
Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin made the first statements on Saturday after Friday night's massacre in Moscow. He accuses Ukraine of trying to help terrorists cross the border. “The four Crocus attackers have been apprehended. They tried to flee to Ukraine, where a "window" was prepared for crossing the border," Putin said, specifying that "all those involved in the attack will be punished," reports Kremlin.ru.
For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Vladimir Putin waited more than a day before publicly addressing the Russians, only to accuse Ukraine of participating in the terrorist attack at a concert hall near Moscow.
Leaders around the world, including the US – such as the French, Israeli and Turkish presidents – expressed their condolences and condemned the attack. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also denounced the attack, stressing that ISIS is a significant global threat at a press conference on Saturday.
For its part, US Vice President Kamala Harris and the White House National Security Council said there was no evidence that Ukraine was behind the attack at a concert hall near Moscow.
And the Chisinau authorities condemned this attack. The Head of State, Maia Sandu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs from Chisinau, Mihai Popșoi, sent their condolences to all the families of the deceased.
"Moldova condemns terrorism and any act of violence against civilians, innocent people," said the president.
"We strongly condemn the terrorist attack in Moscow, which took many innocent lives. Terrorism cannot be justified", the head of Moldovan diplomacy said.
Here's what you need to know about the Moscow concert hall attack
All four suspects in the Crocus City concert hall attack case were remanded in custody until May 22.
They are accused of committing a terrorist act, according to the courts of general jurisdiction in the city of Moscow, which under the Russian Criminal Code is punishable by life imprisonment.
Three of the defendants pleaded guilty, according to the state news agency TASS. All four are from Tajikistan, a former Soviet republic, and were in Russia on either temporary or expired visas.
On March 24, there was a day of national mourning in Russia for the victims of the terrorist attack.
The attack is the deadliest in Russia in two decades
The attack on people at Crocus, which left at least 133 dead, was the worst in Russia since the Beslan school siege in 2004, according to CNN.
September 26, 2022: Eleven children and four adults were killed when a gunman wearing Nazi symbols opened fire at a school in the western Russian city of Izhevsk. The shooter, who was wearing a black T-shirt with Nazi insignia and a helmet, committed suicide in the attack.
April 3, 2017: At least 11 people were killed in an explosion on the Saint Petersburg subway. The blast tore apart a train as it travelled between two stations in Russia's second-largest city.
October 31, 2015: A Russian passenger jet, Metrojet Flight 9268, crashed on October 31 after taking off from the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, killing all 224 people on board. The US intelligence analysis suggested that ISIS or its affiliates planted a bomb on the plane.
December 30, 2013: A massive explosion at a train station in the Russian city of Volgograd killed at least 16 people, including a police officer, Russia's Investigative Committee said.
January 25, 2011: A suicide bomber attacked Domodedovo Airport, Moscow's busiest airport, killing 35 people and injuring about 100, authorities and state television said.
March 29, 2010: Two explosions rock subway stations in central Moscow during rush hour, killing at least 38 people and injuring more than 60 others, sparking widespread public outrage. A website associated with Chechen separatists, who have long fought for independence from Russia, claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
