US seeking to distort facts, clear Kiev trace in Moscow massacre: Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service

A Russian intelligence report says the US State Department and special services have been ordered by the administration of President Joe Biden to create a “distorted picture” about last month’s massacre at a concert hall in the Moscow region.

In a statement released on Monday, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said it had received information that US-affiliated NGOs and media have been tasked with “removing from the international community any suspicions about the involvement of [Ukrainian President] Volodymyr Zelensky and his entourage in the crime.”

The SVR suggested that the White House fears that the discovery of a “Kiev trace” in the attack would “highlight the terrorist nature of the Ukrainian regime” and derail Washington’s attempts to increase support for Ukraine.

It further stated that American agencies are already desperately attempting to convince US allies and partners that the Daesh-K, an offshoot of the Daesh terrorist group, was responsible for the attack.

To reinforce this narrative, the US has been “stuffing” the information field with stories about how Russia has long been the target of Daesh terrorists who, among other reasons, seek revenge for Moscow’s support of Syrian President Bashar Assad, the SVR said.

Senior officials in Moscow say the United States is “covering up for Ukraine” by denying that Kiev was involved in the recent terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall outside Moscow.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in an interview with RIA Novosti on Wednesday that Washington’s reaction to the terrorist attack shows a biased behavior.

Hard to believe Daesh could've launched Moscow attack: Russia

Russia says it is "extremely hard to believe" that Daesh could have staged the recent hugely deadly attack on Moscow concert hall.

The chief of the Russian internal intelligence (FSB), Alexander Bortnikov, recently accused Ukraine of "training the fighters [suspected in the attack] in the Middle East."

The Russian Federal Security Service has also said the gunmen planned to travel to Ukraine, where they were to be welcomed as “heroes.” The FSB said Western intelligence services aided the attackers.

Four gunmen burst into Moscow’s Crocus City Hall on March 22 and began shooting at the people who attended an event.

Moscow massacre: Who created Daesh and whose agenda does it serve

The horrific massacre at a Moscow concert hall, which was claimed by Daesh, has again revived the debate about the origins and agenda of the dreaded terror group.

At least 140 people were killed in the terrorist attack, the worst in Russia’s history since the early 2000s. Some 200 people were also injured.

In the aftermath of the shooting, law enforcement detained several suspects, including four directly involved in the attack. 

Eleven people, including the assailants, have been detained in connection with the attack and face terrorism charges.

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