A court has sentenced a militant who was preparing terrorist attacks on Moscow to 17 years in prison.
Ruslan Ozniev is an accomplice of Russia’s most wanted terrorist leader, Doku Umarov. He was trained at an underground camp in the Caucasus.
Ozniev has been convicted for masterminding a number of planned bombings at apartment buildings, metro stations, and police departments in the capital.
The police claim Ozniev left Paris where he lives with his family and came to Moscow, where he was given TNT, forged documents, and all the necessary equipment.
The terrorist denies the charges and wants to appeal against the decision.
The court hearing took place behind closed doors, as the evidence provided in the trial are considered secret.
Docu Umarov has long been considered one of the most influential Chechen field commanders.
He became “president” of the self-proclaimed Republic of Ichkeria in 2006. The following year he proclaimed himself “emir of the Caucasus Muslims” and created “the Caucasus emirate”.
Umarov backs the idea of an independent Muslim state in the North Caucasus that would include Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia and some neighboring regions.