Astrakhan resident suspected of providing financial assistance to IS

A man accused of involvement in a grouping of the "Astrakhan shooters" is suspected of having transferred money to a member of the "Islamic State" (IS), a terrorist organization, banned in Russia by the court.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that at night on April 4, 2017, two inspectors of the police road-and-patrol service (known as DPS) were shot and killed in Astrakhan. The attackers fled. On the same day, three fighters from the National Guard of Russia were injured in the city, while one of the attackers, Ramzan Kukulaev, a native of the Astrakhan Region, was killed. During a special operation, law enforcers killed other three persons suspected of attacking the DPS inspectors. Investigators suggested that both attacks were committed by members of the same armed grouping. The responsibility for both attacks was claimed by the IS.

Investigators instituted a criminal case on financing terrorism against a resident of Astrakhan, who "transferred 29,000 roubles to his acquaintance who joined the IS." Besides, the man is accused of failure to inform the authorities about the accomplice of the terrorists. He faces punishment of up to life imprisonment.

The criminal case against seven participants in the attack on the DPS inspectors and the fighters from the National Guard of Russia in Astrakhan was brought to court on May 21, 2018. On March 11, the defendants pleaded not guilty.