Police hunting for information on one of the St. Petersburg terror attack suspects say they have found “no trace” that the man ever existed.
Law enforcement officials in Tajikistan have been unable to find any record of Sodik Ortikov in his supposed hometown of Kurgan-Tube.
"We have not yet found a single fact that confirms he was born here, or that he studied or worked in the city," a source in the Tajik Prosecutor General's Office told Russia’s Interfax news agency.
Ortikov was arrested on April 7 in the Odintsovo area of the Moscow region.
Police report that he had been in contact with St. Petersburg bomber Akbarzhon Dzhalilov, and that a pistol and two grenades were found in his home.
Ortikov has been charged with causing death via a terrorist act and with illegally acquiring explosives. He denies all allegations.
On April 3, 16 people were killed when a homemade explosive detonated in the St. Petersburg metro system. More than 50 people were also injured.
A total of 10 individuals have been arrested in the case so far.
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.
