Arithmetic of power

The results of the search for terrorists in the center of St. Petersburg: 700 people were captured, 271 were detained, 10 were deported and only one was taken into custody.

On February 11, investigative authorities charged a native of Kabardino-Balkaria, 24-year-old Murat Sarbashev, with extremism and terrorism, who was detained the day before on the territory of the Apraksin Dvor market in St. Petersburg during a large-scale operation by the special services.

As Novaya was told by the regional Main Investigative Directorate of the Russian Federation, Sarbashev was arrested as a defendant in an extremist case initiated earlier this year under Art. 205 part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation “Public calls for terrorist activities or public justification of terrorism” and Art. 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation “Incitement of hatred or enmity, as well as humiliation of human dignity.” According to investigators, a 24-year-old native of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, from October 2010 to April 2011, posted extremist literature on the Internet, as well as videos depicting terrorist acts. The investigation does not yet have any other suspects in this case.

On February 8–9, a special operation was carried out at the Apraksin Dvor clothing market, in which special forces, riot police, special forces, representatives of the FSB, FMS, Center “E” of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region and the Investigative Committee took part. Under the pretext of searching for extremists and terrorists, security forces searched the prayer room (located in one of the buildings of Apraksin Dvor) right during the holiday prayer, which traditionally attracts at least 1,000 Muslims.

During the raid, almost 700 people were detained to check their identity, registration in the city and possible involvement in the activities of radical organizations. Searches and checks were also carried out in the apartments of alleged radicals. As a result of the operation, 271 people were taken to police departments, center “E”, regional departments of the FSB and FMS.

“About 30 of those detained turned out to be violators of migration laws, ten of them will be deported,” said Elena Dunaeva, head of the regional department of the FMS.

On February 11, migration service officers expelled five residents of Tajikistan, three citizens of Azerbaijan and two natives of Uzbekistan from Russia.

All Muslims from Aprashka were also checked by security forces for involvement in the activities of the Islamic radical community “Petersburg Jamaat” (otherwise known as “Ali Sunna wal Jamaa”).