Trial Begins for 19 Suspects in 2024 Moscow Concert Hall Attack That Killed 149

Moscow, August 4, 2025 – The trial of 19 defendants accused of involvement in the deadly March 22, 2024, attack on Moscow’s Crocus City Hall concert venue commenced on Monday under stringent security measures at the 2nd Western District Military Court. The assault, one of the deadliest in Moscow since the Russian-Chechen wars of the 1990s and 2000s, claimed 149 lives and injured over 600 people.

The defendants, seated in a glass cage and keeping their heads bowed, face charges related to the massacre, which saw four gunmen open fire on concertgoers awaiting a performance by the rock band Picnic before setting the venue ablaze. The Islamic State’s Afghan branch, known as ISIS-K, claimed responsibility for the attack through its affiliated Amaq News Agency, a claim supported by U.S. intelligence confirming ISIS-K acted alone.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and other officials have repeatedly alleged, without evidence, that Ukraine orchestrated the attack to destabilize Russia’s political landscape, claiming the gunmen attempted to flee toward Ukraine. Kyiv has categorically denied any involvement, with Ukrainian officials labeling the accusations a Kremlin provocation to fuel anti-Ukrainian sentiment and bolster support for Russia’s ongoing war. U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson reiterated, “ISIS bears sole responsibility for this attack. There was no Ukrainian involvement whatsoever. Russia’s Investigative Committee, the country’s top criminal investigation agency, concluded in June that the attack was “planned and carried out in the interests of the current leadership of Ukraine.” It reported that the four main suspects, all Tajik citizens, were arrested hours after the attack in the Bryansk region, approximately 400 km southwest of Moscow, showing visible signs of physical abuse during their court appearance in March 2024. The committee also charged six others in absentia, accusing them of recruiting and training the gunmen, and placed them on Russia’s wanted list. The remaining defendants are alleged to have provided support to the attackers

The attack, which sparked a massive fire and partial roof collapse at the 6,200-capacity venue, drew global condemnation. The U.S. had warned Russia of a potential ISIS-K attack targeting large gatherings in Moscow two weeks prior, a warning dismissed by Putin as “blackmail” aimed at destabilizing Russian society. French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed French intelligence findings that ISIS-K orchestrated the attack, offering investigative assistance to Russia.

The trial follows a national day of mourning declared on March 24, 2024, with memorials outside the burned-out venue and tightened security across Moscow. The attack has reignited debates over Russia’s security priorities, with critics arguing that the focus on domestic repression and the Ukraine conflict may have undermined efforts to counter genuine terrorist threats.