Woman charged with terrorism over murder of military correspondent

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
4 Apr 2023 16:47

Daria Trepova orchestrated a terror attack against Vlader Tatarsky, also known as Maxim Fomin, on Sunday as he was hosting an event at a cafe in St. Petersburg.

Daria Trepova escorted by Russian forces. (Investigative Committee of Russia/Reuters)

Russia's Investigative Committee told Sputnik on Tuesday that Daria Trepova, the woman responsible for the murder of Russian military correspondent Vladlen Tatarsky, received terrorism charges from the Moscow Basmanny Court.

Trepova orchestrated a terror attack against Vladlen Tatarsky, also known as Maxim Fomin, on Sunday as he was hosting an event at a cafe in St. Petersburg.

During the event, a statue containing 200 grams of TNT was gifted to Tatarsky by Trepova.

When the bomb went off, Tatarsky was instantly killed, and 32 people who were present at the event were also injured.

On Monday, Russia's Investigative Committee said that Daria Trepova was arrested on suspicion of involvement in the explosion.

Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee stated that the special services of Ukraine and the supporters of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK, a designated extremist organization and foreign agent, banned in Russia) were behind the operation.

"Daria Trepova has been charged. She is charged with committing a crime under paragraph 'b' of Part 3 of Article 205 of the Russian Criminal Code, Part 4 of Article 222.1 (a terrorist act committed by an organized group that caused intentional death to a person; illegal carrying of explosive devices committed by an organized group)," Russia's Investigative Committee said.

the detained Daria Trepova:

Do you understand why you were taken into custody?
- I understand.
- For what?
- Because I was at the scene of the murder of Vladlen Tatarski. I brought the statue there, which exploded.
Who gave you this statue?
- Can I tell you later? pic.twitter.com/Jo0baSs2yz
— Spriter (@Spriter99880) April 3, 2023

Trepova was taken to Moscow Basmanny Court earlier today where she received the terror charges, the Committee added.

The Committee further said it demands the pre-trial detention of Trepova.

Daria Trepova is being transferred from St. Petersburg to Moscow pic.twitter.com/M6khYfm1Hn
— GraphicW (@GraphicW5) April 3, 2023

Vladlen Tatarsky’s actual name was Maxim Yurevich Fomin. He took the pseudonym “Vladlen Tararsky in honor of Vavilen Tatarsky who was the hero in Viktor Pelevin’s novel “Generation P”. He was born on 25 April 1982 in the city of Makeevka. He was also a close friend of journalist Darya Dugina who was assassinated by Kiev's forces in August last year.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Monday, "Russia is facing the Kiev regime. This is the regime that supports terrorist attacks, this is the regime that is behind the murder of Darya Dugina, this is the regime that quite possibly is behind the murder of Fomin (Tatarsky), and behind the terrorist attack in St. Petersburg, this is the regime that has been behind the murders of people for many years since 2014, which is why the special military operation is being carried out."

The Kremlin expressed its condolences to the relatives and friends of Tatarsky, and wish a speedy recovery to all those injured. The spokesperson also added that the investigation is still in an active phase and that "we should be patient and wait for the statements of our special services that are working on the case."