Suspects of blowing up "Neva-Express" train, detained in Ingushetia, refuse to plead guilty

None of the detainees in the course of special operation conducted in Ekazhevo village in Ingushetia, suspected of taking part in blowing up the "Neva-Express" train, has pled guilty. All of them are arrested. According to the legislation, a charge of terrorism should be presented to them within 30 day after arrest.

Let us remind you that on March 6 the Public Relations Centre (PRC) of the Russian FSB reported that the 2009 explosion of the "Neva-Express" train was solved: it was committed by the Kartoev grouping headed by Alexander Tikhomirov (also known as Said Buryatskiy), one of militants' leaders.

Ten supposed accomplices, of whom nine are members of the Khoartoy kin and bear the Kartoev surname, were sent to Moscow and placed to the SIZO "Lefortovo". There, a statement was presented to them about their attraction as suspects under Articles 205 and 222 - "Terror act committed by a group of persons", and "Illegal circulation of explosives".

In the first place, back on March 3, the Basmanny District Court considered the petition of the ICPO to arrest the jobless Zelimkhan Aushev, detained in Ekazhevo. Suspicions of Aushev appeared after bomb components were found in his house and a mobile phone with soldered wires, ready to be used as a bomb trigger. The "Kommersant" newspaper writes, with reference to inspectors, that a similar telephone triggered by a call was used at the attempt on inspectors with the help of a self-made bomb committed in the Tver Region.

On March 4, on similar arguments, the Basmanny District Court sanctioned arrest for two months of nine more suspects, all of them Kartoev by surname. Under the versions of the ICPO and FSB, the elder of the brothers, Tukhan, who was killed in Ekazhevo, was the organizer of the train explosion, and was involved, together with his relatives, in 15 more terror acts and attempts on employees of law enforcement bodies and state servants.

So far, the suspects' interests are defended by appointed lawyers. They say that they got a general impression that the detention and convoying to Moscow was no surprise for the suspects. "They behaved at the trial as if they had been internally ready to such outcome," said one of the advocates and noted that his client was just playing the fool at the session, when convicted of committing the crime.

It is notable that even Ayub Ugurchiev, head of the administration of Ekazhevo, refused to defend his fellow countrymen, liquidated and arrested during the special operation.