As Russians grieved Monday for victims of the bloody assault on a live performance corridor close to Moscow that killed a minimum of 137 individuals, President Vladimir V. Putin was scheduled to satisfy with authorities officers to debate the tragedy, the worst such assault within the capital in 20 years.
The federal government seems to be stepping up efforts to pin the blame on Ukraine. On Sunday, hours after a district courtroom arraigned four men suspected of finishing up the Friday night time assault, the primary night information exhibits on Russia’s important tv channels featured reviews suggesting that Ukraine was accountable.
The primary message was that Western international locations have been pushing a principle {that a} department of the Islamic State was behind the assault, which befell at Crocus Metropolis Corridor on the outskirts of Moscow, to shift blame away from Ukraine.
“The USA and Europe perceive that any connection between Ukraine and the assault towards Crocus Metropolis Corridor could be suicidal for Kyiv and the entire anti-Russian alliance,” mentioned one anchor, Dmitri Melnikov, in a report on Vesti Nedeli, the flagship weekly information present on Rossiya-1, the primary state-owned tv community.
The Islamic State has claimed accountability for the assault. The USA has mentioned that the assault was the work of an ISIS offshoot, the Islamic State in Khorasan, and that there isn’t a proof implicating Ukraine. Ukraine has denied any involvement.
On Monday, mourners streamed to take flowers to spontaneous memorials throughout the nation. Many Russians have been additionally going to hospitals to donate blood, state information media reported.
Three purchasing malls belonging to the corporate that owns the live performance corridor mentioned that they might be closed indefinitely. Emergency staff continued to clear the particles contained in the live performance corridor.
However the protection by Russian state information retailers mirrored how the Kremlin appeared decided to muster its assets towards what it apparently sees as its important enemy: Ukraine, backed by a coalition of Western states.
Russian investigators haven’t disclosed any proof suggesting that the 4 suspects, males from Tajikistan who have been migrant staff in Russia, have a connection to Ukraine.
Within the information reviews, Russian state tv introduced the placement of their arrest — the Bryansk area of Russia that borders Ukraine — as proof of Ukrainian involvement. The reports also suggested that Kyiv might have employed them to mount the assault.
In a statement about the tragedy, President Vladimir V. Putin mentioned that the suspects “have been heading towards Ukraine” and that “in keeping with preliminary data, a window was ready for them on the Ukrainian aspect to cross the state border.”
Dmitri S. Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesman, mentioned on Monday that Mr. Putin would meet with Russian authorities officers and the heads of the Moscow area to debate unspecified measures that wanted to be taken after the assault.
Mr. Peskov mentioned he wouldn’t touch upon the course of the investigation.
“We urge you to depend on the knowledge that comes from our regulation enforcement companies,” Mr. Peskov mentioned.
The 4 suspects, in keeping with their temporary appearances in courtroom, have been overseas migrant staff who spoke little or no Russian. In videos of their appearances, they seemed severely crushed, and movies of their being tortured throughout interrogation circulated broadly on social media. One of many suspects, Muhammadsobir Z. Fayzov, 19, was rolled into the courtroom in a wheelchair.
Their look has reignited calls to additional regulate labor migration into Russia. And Mikhail Sheremet, a lawmaker, told the state agency RIA Novosti that he would push for the reintroduction of capital punishment in Russia.
