Support The Moscow Times!

Suspect Accused of Training St. Petersburg Bomber Arrested Near Moscow

Abror Azimov, suspected of recruiting and training the St. Petersburg bomber, has been arrested by Russian special forces.

Federal Security Service / TASS

The man believed to have recruited and trained the St. Petersburg metro bomber has been arrested by Russian special forces.

Agents from Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) detained Abror Azimov on Monday in the Odintsovo district of the Moscow region.

Security officers believe that Azimov was the last person in contact with Akbarzhon Dzhalilov before he detonated a bomb on the St. Petersburg metro system on April 3.

They also believe that Azimov could have acted as a mentor for the 22-year-old, helping him to organize the attack, Russia's Kommersant newspaper reported.

Both men are Kyrgyz-born Russian citizens from the city of Osh.

A spokesperson for the Russian Investigative Committee said that Azimov was a suspected accomplice to the crime, but that his exact role was still under investigation.

Agents tracked down Azimov after he bought and activated a new SIM card, giving away his position.

He was found with a loaded pistol close to Odintsovo railway station.

Two more alleged accomplices, Sadyk Ortikov and Shokhista Karimov, were also arrested.

The men are believed to have worked at a cafe on Minskskoe Shosse, Kommersant reported.

Azimov is due to appear at  Moscow's Basmanny District Court on Tuesday.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

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.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more