©Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia
Darya Trepova, detained on suspicion of being involved in the murder of military correspondent Vladlen Tatarsky, has confessed that she was the one who brought the statuette bomb that exploded inside the cafe, according to a video released by the Russian Interior Ministry's press center on Monday.
"I was the one who snuck in the statuette that exploded," she said.
Asked what she had been detained for, Trepova replied, "I was detained, I would say, for being at the scene of Vladlen Tatarsky's murder."
She refused to say who gave her the statuette.
"I'll talk about that later, if you don’t mind," Trepova said.
The cafe bombing occurred on April 2 during a meeting with military correspondent Maxim Fomin, known under the pen-name Vladlen Tatarsky. He died instantly. More than 30 people were injured. The blast’s yield is estimated at 200 grams of TNT. Investigative Committee detectives and forensic experts are examining the crime scene.
The criminal case has been transferred to the central office of the Investigative Committee. On Sunday evening law enforcement officers searched Trepova's home in St. Petersburg. Her mother and sister were interviewed. According to preliminary findings, it was Trepova who handed the figurine bomb to Tatarsky.
The National Anti-Terrorism Committee said that the terrorist act against Tatarsky had been masterminded by Ukraine’s special services and agents collaborating with Alexey Navalny’s anti-corruption foundation (recognized as an extremist organization in Russia). Trepova is a supporter of the foundation.
Tatarsky’s murder plotted by Ukrainian intel services, involved Navalny’s firm — officials
The terror attack on war reporter Vladlen Tatarsky [real name: Maxim Fomin] was plotted by Ukrainian special services, which in turn recruited agents from among individuals working with incarcerated blogger Alexey Navalny’s foundation (designated an extremist organization in Russia), the National Anti-Terrorism Committee told TASS on Monday.
"The investigation has established that the April 2 act of terror against prominent journalist Vladlen Tatarsky in St. Petersburg was plotted by Ukrainian special services and involved a number of people who cooperate with the so-called Anti-Corruption Foundation of [Alexey] Navalny, who was actively supported by detainee [Darya] Trepova," the Committee said in a statement.
The probe is ongoing, Russia’s anti-terrorism body said.
The motives behind Trepova’s crime are currently being established, Investigative Committee Spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko told reporters. Trepova has been detained; appropriate restraining measures are now being determined for her.
A blast ripped through a caf·, Street Food-Bar No. 1, on Universitetskaya Embankment in central St. Petersburg on April 2. One person, military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky, who was hosting an event there, died on the spot, while over 30 people were injured. According to preliminary data, an explosive device with a yield of more than 200 grams of TNT went off near the stage. Investigators and forensic crime scene units are still working at the scene.
The resulting criminal case has been assigned to the Investigative Committee’s central office. On Sunday evening, law enforcement agents searched Trepova’s apartment in St. Petersburg, where her mother and her sister were interrogated. According to preliminary reports, it was Trepova who handed Tatarsky a statuette that appeared to have been stuffed with explosives.
Suspect in St. Petersburg cafe blast detained, Investigative Committee reports
Investigative Committee officers have detained Darya Trepova, the suspect in a St.Petersburg cafe blast that killed war reporter Vladlen Tatarsky on Sunday, the Committee told reporters on Monday.
"Russian Investigative Committee officers in cooperation with operatives detained Darya Trepova on suspicion of her being behind the St. Petersburg cafe blast," the Investigative Committee said.
A blast occurred in Streetfood-Bar No 1 on Universitetskaya Embankment in central St. Petersburg on April 2. One person, war reporter Vladlen Tatarsky who held an event there, died on the spot, and over 30 people were injured. According to preliminary data, an explosive device with a yield of more than 200 grams of TNT went off near the stage. Investigators and crime scene units are still working on the scene.
On Sunday evening, law enforcement agents searched Trepova’s flat in St. Petersburg, where her mother and her sister were interrogated. According to preliminary reports, it was Trepova who handed Tatarsky a statuette stuffed with explosives. She was later wanted by the police.
Kremlin: War reporter Tatarsky's murder is act of terrorism, Putin was urgently informed
The murder of war reporter Vladlen Tatarsky is a terrorist act, Russian President Vladimir Putin was immediately informed of the incident, Kremlin Sspokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.
"This is a terrorist act, you and I have seen the National Antiterrorism Committee’s statement. Now there is an active phase of the investigation, we see quite energetic steps to detain suspects. Let's be patient in any case and wait for statements from our special services that are working there. There is evidence, judging by the National Antiterrorism Committee’s statement, that Ukrainian special services may be involved in the planning of this terrorist attack, and, of course, this is a terrorist attack," Peskov reiterated.
In reply to a clarifying question whether the president was aware, he assured: "Yesterday, he was immediately informed on the subject."
Peskov did not say whether Tatarsky might posthumously recieve a state award from the head of state. "I can't say anything about that yet. I do not have this information," the spokesman explained, noting that reporters would be informed after the data was clarified.
Peskov added that the Kremlin wished a speedy recovery to the victims of the explosion. "And, of course, our condolences to the family and friends of Fomin, who died as a result of this terrorist attack," he said.
The explosion in the cafe happened around 6 p.m. on April 2 during an event hosted by Tatarsky. The journalist was killed on the spot and more than 30 people were injured. According to preliminary data, an explosive device with a yield of more than 200 grams of TNT went off near the stage. Investigators are continuing to work at the scene. Criminal charges of murder by socially dangerous means (Part 2, Article 105 of the Russian Criminal Code) have been filed.
The criminal case was transferred to the Investigative Committee’s central office. According to the National Antiterrorism Committee’s statement, the attack was planned by the Ukrainian special services, as well as agents collaborating with Alexey Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation FBK (recognized as a foreign agent NGO).
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