Kyrgyz-born Azimov identified as mastermind behind St. Petersburg terror attack

Kyrgyz-born Abror Azimov, who was detained by police in the Moscow Region on Monday, was one of the masterminds behind the fatal terror attack on the subway system in St. Petersburg two weeks ago, a spokesman for the Russian Investigative Committee said on Tuesday, reports TASS.

“After being detained, Azimov confirmed his involvement in preparing for the terrorist attack,” the spokesman said.

Azimov’s lawyer Armen Zadoyan told TASS earlier in the day that his defendant had pleaded guilty.

However, Azimov said, “I have no objections at all regarding my detention, but this is not true regarding a statement from an investigator that I had pleaded guilty.”

“I do not deny my participation, but I was not directly involved,” Azimov claimed. “I did not know what I was doing as I was only executing commands, which I received.”

Svetlana Petrenko, Spokesperson for the Russian Investigative Committee, stated earlier that Azimov had been detained in the Moscow Region on Monday is a suspected accomplice in the terrorist act and his exact role in the crime was being established. According to Petrenko, firearms and ammunition were seized during Azimov’s detention.