The case of a student who opened fire in a north Moscow school in February 2014, killing two adults before taking more than 20 teenagers hostage, has been reopened by the presidium of the Moscow City Court, the Interfax news agency reported Friday.
The student, Sergei Gordeyev, was diagnosed with an emotional disorder after the incident. He was freed from criminal responsibility in March 2014, with a district court ordering compulsory mental health treatment.
That ruling has now been overturned by the city court, and the case — with Gordeyev now charged with hostage-taking — sent to the Moscow Regional Military Court for reconsideration.
An investigation following the shooting, which took place in Moscow's Butyrki district on Feb. 3, 2014, showed that the teenager had fired at least 11 times from a small-caliber rifle legally owned by his father, shooting dead a geography teacher and the first police officer who arrived at the scene.
In late September, victims filed an appeal with the presidium of the city court, requesting that the case be reviewed. Gordeyev, who had partially admitted his guilt, now faces a prison term, the legal information portal RAPSI News wrote Friday.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
