Accused of committing a terrorist attack in a cafe on Universitetskaya Embankment in St. Petersburg, which killed military commander Vladlen Tatarsky and wounded 40 people, Daria Trepova gave her first interview from the Moscow Lefortovo pre-trial detention center. The text, made on the basis of correspondence with the accused, on Wednesday, May 3, was published by the Rotunda Telegram channel. RBC Petersburg gives some quotes.
About relatives and their attitude to what happened:
“After the incident, as soon as I realized what had happened, I immediately wrote to my mother, apologized, because I understood that they would look for me and come to her. Then I saw footage of the storming of the apartment. I was shocked and terribly ashamed. In the Investigative Committee, the operatives said that she screamed that she would kill me when she was taken for interrogation. It made me want to die too. SOBR also went to my grandfather, he is over 80. The operatives said that my mother went with them so that he would not be alone. In the UK, they let me call my mother, but she did not pick up the phone.
On his work and love for vintage clothes:
“I have always been interested in vintage clothing. At school, she wore clothes from her grandmother’s chests and something bought at flea markets. I liked my job (in a vintage clothing store – Ed.), and I myself invested in the store as a project. In January, the owner and I had a disagreement, and we parted ways. I was hurt. But then I thought that this was a point of growth, besides, on the eve of the dismissal, a journalist friend suggested moving to Ukraine and trying myself as a military correspondent.
About the conditions of detention in the pre-trial detention center:
“I was alone in the cell for the first 10 days – it’s unbearable. At first I had neither a book nor cigarettes. During the day you can not sleep under the covers. It’s cold in the cell. I covered myself with a jacket and looked at the wall. Now a girl has been placed with me, she has been here for three years. And I watch the Karusel channel a lot. On others, there is a risk of seeing frames, you yourself understand where. It’s sad that I can no longer lie at home and watch cartoons with my sister. Defenders are almost not allowed into Lefortovo. They came from the UK 3-4 times, but I have not seen a lawyer until now.”
On thoughts of suicide:
“To hold on, I wrote a letter to myself that I would never have a hand in violence, that I didn’t know how it would end, that there are people who know me and sympathize, that if I die, I will hurt my loved ones, yes And that won’t make them any less of a problem.”
Trepova also once again stated that she was “madly sorry” about what had happened and “prayed for the health of the victims.” “So that my regret does not look cynical, I will add that I survived, apparently, purely by chance,” she said.
Recall that the explosion in the St. Petersburg Patriot bar on Universitetskaya embankment occurred on April 2, 2023. As a result of the incident, military commander Maxim Fomin, known under the pseudonym Vladlen Tatarsky, died. 40 people were injured. According to investigators, a shellless explosive device was hidden inside a figurine given to Tatarsky by Daria Trepova. The IED was activated remotely, using a SIM card embedded in it. The investigation believes that Trepova’s actions were directed from the territory of Ukraine.
The girl was detained and arrested a day later at the apartment of her friend in St. Petersburg.
Later, Trepova was transferred to Moscow, where on April 4, the Basmanny Court, at a closed meeting, chose a preventive measure for her in the form of arrest until June 2.
The suspect herself repeatedly stated that she regretted what had happened, and claimed that “she was framed.”
First, the Investigative Committee initiated a case of murder in a generally dangerous way, then changed the qualification to a terrorist attack (Article 205 of the Criminal Code). Under this article can face up to 20 years in prison.
Rosfinmonitoring added Trepova to the list of terrorists and extremists.
