Russian massacre suspects' homeland is plagued by poverty and religious strife
Four Tajik suspects linked to Islamic State group identified in Moscow theater massacre.
- Bilawal Riaz
- 1 min read
Russian authorities have identified four men from Tajikistan as the suspects behind the Moscow theater massacre that left 139 people dead. The suspects, described as “radical Islamists” by President Vladimir Putin, appeared in court with signs of mistreatment. They have been linked to the Islamic State group in Afghanistan, which reportedly recruits heavily from Tajikistan. Tajikistan faces religious tensions due to its history of hard-line Islamists opposing the government in a civil war. The country has a significant migrant population in Russia due to poverty and unemployment. Amid concerns about Islamic extremism, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has imposed restrictions on religious freedoms. Russia has been previously targeted by various extremist groups, with recent attacks attributed to or claimed by the Islamic State group.