MOSCOW, April 3. /TASS/. 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.