Russian authorities in Simferopol arrest five suspects in Crimean Bridge case

A Russian-controlled Simferopol court has arrested five suspects in the criminal case over the October 8 explosion on the Crimean Bridge, a source with knowledge of the situation told Interfax.

According to the source, the suspects in question are Artyom Azatyan, Georgy Azatyan, Roman Solomko, Vladimir Zloba, and Artur Terchanyan. Two of the men’s lawyers confirmed to Interfax that their clients were arrested.

 The Russian FSB previously accused Solomko and Zloba, Ukrainian citizens, and Terchanyan, an Armenian citizen, of being involved in planning the operation to send an explosive device to Russia through Bulgaria, Georgia, and Armenia. Artyom and Georgy Azatyan have not been mentioned publicly by the agency.

On the morning of October 8, a freight truck exploded on the only bridge linking Russia and Crimea. The blast caused three spans of the bridge’s automobile section to collapse and multiple fuel cisterns to ignite. At least four people were killed.

Happy birthday, Mr. President

The day before the Crimean Bridge explosion was Vladimir Putin's 70th birthday; Ukrainian officials have hinted that the blast was a "birthday present" for the Russian president. Meanwhile, Meduza marked the occasion by speaking to sources close to the Russian government about how things are going for the president. Their accounts painted a picture of a Kremlin in serious crisis.