The district court in Moscow arraigned the four men suspected of carrying out a deadly attack on a concert hall near the city, which resulted in the deaths of at least 137 people. They were charged with committing a terrorist act and were remanded in custody until May 22. The men, originally from Tajikistan but working as migrant laborers in Russia, could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Two of the defendants, Dalerjon B. Mirzoyev and Saidakrami M. Rachalbalizoda, pleaded guilty to the charges, while the plea of the other two was not specified. The men appeared severely injured and battered in court, with videos of them being tortured during interrogation circulating on social media.
The youngest defendant, Muhammadsobir Z. Fayzov, a 19-year-old barber, was brought into the courtroom on a wheelchair from a hospital emergency room. He answered questions quietly and stammered while speaking in Tajik through a translator. Another defendant, Mr. Rachabalizoda, had visible injuries from his interrogation, including a sliced-off ear forced into his mouth.
The press was only allowed to witness parts of the hearings due to concerns about revealing sensitive information or risking the lives of court workers. The men were arrested after a car chase 230 miles southwest of Moscow following the attack on the concert hall.
President Vladimir V. Putin suggested a link to Ukraine in the attack, but the United States attributed it to the Islamic State. The men charged, including Mr. Mirzoyev, leaned for support in the court cage. Mr. Rachabalizoda shared his legal status in Russia, while the fourth defendant, Shamsidin Fariduni, had worked in various jobs in the Moscow area.
The Islamic State has been successful in recruiting migrant laborers from Central Asia in Russia, who often face discrimination and grievances.
Alina Lobzina, Paul Sonne, and Milana Mazaeva contributed to the reporting.
