Five accused in Kerch bridge explosion remanded in custody for two months

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A Crimean court has ordered Friday that five of the eight detained for their alleged connection with the explosion recorded last week on the Kerch bridge, which connects the peninsula — annexed in 2014 by Russia — with Russian territory, remain in custody for a period of two months.

Sources quoted by Russia’s Interfax news agency have noted that “all of them are suspects” and added that “it has been determined that they will remain in detention until December 8.” Those affected by the measure have been identified as Artem Azatian, Georgi Azatian, Roman Solomko, Vladimir Zlob and Artur Terchanian.

According to the Federal Security Service (FSB), all of the detainees, who also include citizens of Ukraine and Armenia, were somehow involved in the preparation of an action that partially destroyed the bridge and left at least three dead.

Russian investigators have attributed the attack — “terrorist” in Moscow’s eyes — to a concealed explosive device that was initially shipped from the port of Odessa in Ukraine to the port of Ruse in Bulgaria. The trail of the cargo would continue through Georgia and Armenia. Russia has targeted Kiev for its alleged responsibility in the incident.