How terrorism’s geopolitics brought tragedy to Moscow

Mar 31, 2024

A devastating terrorist attack in Moscow has sparked debates over responsibility, with IS-K claiming involvement while Russian authorities blame enemies in Kyiv, Washington, and London. The arrest of Tajikistani nationals as suspects and allegations of torture have raised questions. The podcast delves into IS-K's potential role, counterterrorism tactics, ISIS-K's motives for targeting Russia, and the challenges of combating extremism fueled by weapons flowing back into the country.

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Introduction

00:00 • 1min

Analyzing ISK's Potential Involvement in Moscow Attack

01:24 • 16min

Tactics and Vulnerabilities in Counterterrorism

17:53 • 5min

ISIS-K: Targeting Russia

23:05 • 7min

The Mystery of Abdullah: Alleged IS Fighter

30:17 • 5min

Russian Propaganda on Terrorist Attacks and Western Support

35:20 • 9min

Weapons Flowing Back to Russia: Impact and Challenges

44:11 • 4min

It’s been a little more than a week since a group of armed men walked into a concert hall just outside Moscow and gunned down dozens of defenseless people. A branch of the Islamic State active in South-Central Asia known as Islamic State – Khorasan, or IS-K, claimed responsibility for the Moscow attack in a statement through an affiliated media channel. That same channel later published body-cam footage recorded by the terrorists in the concert hall during the attack. Western intelligence officials say they have corroborated IS-K’s responsibility claim.

Though IS-K says the concert hall killings are its work, Russian national security officials — including President Putin in several public statements — have argued that Moscow’s enemies in Kyiv, Washington, and London are the attack’s true masterminds.

The Russian authorities have arrested four Tajikistani nationals they say acted as the gunmen, and several more people are now in custody on suspicion of aiding and abetting the killings. Before the four main suspects were arraigned in court, videos circulated online showing Russian security forces torturing them after their capture. Despite this treatment then and presumably in the days since, so far, only two of the four defendants have pleaded guilty to all charges.

To learn more about the perpetrators of this heinous attack, the fluid geopolitics that drives such terrorism, and the road ahead for Russia as the Kremlin tries to utilize the tragedy for its own aims, Meduza spoke to Dr. Jean-François Ratelle, an adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa, and Dr. Domitilla Sagramoso, a senior lecturer in conflict and security in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London.

Timestamps for this episode:

(5:49) The Role of Tajikistan and Central Asia in the Attack
(28:07) Russia’s Response and the Blame Game
(29:30) Debunking Narratives: The Truth Behind the Accusations
(44:09) The Impact of the Ukraine Conflict on Russia’s Security Landscape

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