Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova remarked on Wednesday that the US has painted itself into a corner with its statements regarding the involvement of the banned ISIS organization in the terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall complex in the suburbs of Moscow.
Speaking to “Sputnik” radio today, Zakharova stated, “The fact that the Americans, within the first 24 hours (after the attack), even before extinguishing the fire, started shouting that this is not Ukraine, I think this is evidence, I cannot classify it in any other way, it is evidence in itself.”
She added, “The second point is the United States’ shouts that this is definitely the banned terrorist organization ISIS. Of course, the speed with which they did all this is amazing,” noting that within a few hours, journalists were summoned, and the announcement of Washington’s findings regarding those responsible for this gruesome terrorist attack was made.
“It seems to me that they have led themselves to a dead end because as soon as they started shouting that this is ‘ISIS,’ all specialists in international relations, scientists, political experts, asked everyone to remember, what is ‘ISIS’? You yourselves are behind ‘ISIS,’ you – the United States and Britain – created it yourselves,” Zakharova continued.
The terrorist incident occurred on the evening of March 22 at the Crocus City Hall entertainment complex in Krasnogorsk, near Moscow, resulting in the deaths of at least 139 people. Eleven individuals involved in the attack, including the four perpetrators, have been arrested.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a televised address, stated that preliminary information suggests that the Ukrainian side facilitated the passage of the terrorist attackers across the border. Putin promised to identify and punish all those responsible for the attack.
Under a decision by the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation issued on December 29, 2014, the ISIS organization is considered a terrorist group, and its activities are prohibited in Russia.
