Defendants in Rostov pretrial detention center hostage-taking case plead guilty

Four of the five accused of taking hostages pleaded guilty during a hearing in the Southern District Military Court, and another defendant partially pleaded guilty.

As "Caucasian Knot" reported, on June 16, 2024, prisoners in the Rostov pretrial detention center took two employees of the detention center hostage. They identified themselves as members of the "Islamic State"*, demanded a car, weapons, and the opportunity to leave the pretrial detention center. The security forces stormed the building, the hostage takers were killed, and the hostages were released.

In the dock are Daniil Kamnev, who survived the assault, Malik Gandaloev, who was detained after the assault, as well as three other defendants - Ramzan Albekov, Magomed Alkhanov and Adam Kodzoev, who became known later. Depending on their role and degree of participation, they are charged under articles on attempted escape from custody, hostage-taking, disruption of institutions that ensure isolation from society, participation in the activities of a terrorist organization, attempted terrorist attack, and preparation for participation in an illegal armed group.

Today, four defendants in the case, which began to be heard in the Southern District Military Court, fully admitted their guilt. "Yes," they answered the judge's question whether they admit guilt in the incriminated crimes, TASS reported.

Kodzoyev told the court that he admits guilt "partially," without explaining in what part, RIA Novosti clarifies.

According to investigators, the defendants began planning their escape in April 2024. Each of the participants had their own task, including recording a video with the symbols of the Islamic State, which was to be distributed in public groups, and setting fire to the pretrial detention center, Interfax writes. The defendants planned to commit a series of terrorist attacks in Ingushetia after escaping.

It should be noted that earlier the Southern District Military Court issued guilty verdicts to two members of the group, Kamnev and Gandaloev, on the fact of previously committed terrorist crimes, because of which they were in the pretrial detention center.

Recall that in October 2024, human rights activists reported that at least seven prisoners in the Taganrog pretrial detention center are being tortured in order to obtain confessions in the case of the riot in the Rostov pretrial detention center.

Analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" earlier noted that there is a shortage of employees in the FSIN institutions, and those who do work long hours for modest salaries, which contributes to the development of corruption and violation of safety rules for personal gain.

* the organization is recognized as terrorist and banned in Russia by the court.

** Meta (which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp) is banned in Russia.