Support The Moscow Times!

Trial of Moscow School Shooter Begins

The trial against a 15-year-old student accused of a going on a deadly school shooting spree earlier this year began in a Moscow court on Monday.

The 10th grader will be tried behind closed doors, according to TASS news agency. Russian law forbids the media from disclosing his name.

The student stands accused of coming to school with two rifles on Feb. 3 and shooting geography teacher Andrei Kirillov before taking his fellow classmates hostage. Kirillov died at the scene. Two police officers responded to the incident, and one of them was shot dead while the other was severely injured.  

Vladimir Levin, the suspect's lawyer, said in comments to TASS that his client had partially admitted his guilt and would likely be ordered to undergo treatment at a psychiatric facility.

"We are expecting him to be sent to mandatory treatment, I cannot say how long it will be or what kind of treatment it will involve, but considering the charges it may be very long," Levin was cited as saying.

The next hearing is set for Feb. 15.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more