MOSCOW, April 7 (RAPSI, Oleg Sivozhelezov) – Sodik Ortikov, suspected of being involved in the terror attack at St. Petersburg metro, has pleaded not guilty, RAPSI reported on Friday from the Basmanny District Court of Moscow.
The court reviews the Investigative Committee’s motion to detain Ortikov until June 3. The suspect was arrested on April 6 at his place of living. Ortikov denies that a handgun, handgun ammunition and explosives found at the place belong to him noting that he did not serve in military forces.
On Friday, the court found that Ortikov, 38, is a citizen of Tajikistan living in the Moscow Region where he had worked as a cook in a café before he was detained. He is married and a father to a little child. Ortikov is suspected of being involved in terrorist activities and illegal possession of explosives.
Earlier, the Investigative Committee’s press-service announced that several suspects were arrested in relation to explosion in St. Petersburg metro: Seyfull Khakimov, Ibragibzhon Yermatov, Dilmurod Miudinov, Bakhram Yergashev, Azamzhon Makhmudov, Makhamadyusuf Mirzaalimov, Shokhista Karimova and Sodik Ortikov. Six people were arrested in St. Petersburg; two others were arrested in Moscow.
According to investigators, explosive device identical to one found at St. Petersburg’s Ploshad Vosstaniya metro station as well as handguns and ammunition were found at suspects’ places of residence.
On April 3, at around 2:40 PM Moscow time, an unknown device exploded in a train between St. Petersburg metro stations Technological Institute and Sennaya Ploshchad. According to the most recent information, 14 people died in the blast, over 50 were wounded. Investigators claim that the suicide bomber is the Kyrgyz Republic’s native Akbarzhon Dzhalilov, born in 1995.