The First Court of Appeal of General Jurisdiction in Moscow rejected an appeal against the latest extension of detention for Denis Popovich and Nikita Ivankovich, who are accused in the case concerning an alleged attempt on Metropolitan Tikhon Shevkunov. A Mediazona correspondent reported this from the courtroom.
During the hearing, Popovich’s lawyer, Mariya Eysmont, referred to FSB forensic materials. According to her, the explosive device that investigators say was intended for the attack had been hidden inside a Sady Pridonya juice carton.
The defense said the carton carried a QR code indicating that the juice was sold on February 10, 2025. At the same time, forensic experts found traces of Popovich’s DNA on it, although, according to his lawyer, he had been held under so-called rotating administrative arrests from January 13 to February 12.
“How were Popovich’s DNA traces found on a juice carton that was purchased while he was under administrative arrest?”
Ivankovich’s lawyer pointed to another discrepancy. According to the forensic examination, the explosive device was assembled between February 10 and 12, 2025. At the same time, investigators allege that Ivankovich had moved it from one stash to another earlier, on February 9, 2025. Ivankovich himself was detained on February 12.
The FSB announced the arrest of Popovich and Ivankovich, both graduates of the Sretensky Theological Academy, at the end of February last year. According to the security service, they were supposed to detonate a bomb near Metropolitan Tikhon Shevkunov and then leave Russia using forged Ukrainian documents.
Initially, the two men were charged with preparing a terrorist attack and possessing explosives. As TASS reported, in May they were also charged with unlawful access to computer information, terrorism training, and participation in a terrorist community. In court, Popovich and Ivankovich said investigators had planted physical evidence during the search and tortured them with electric shocks before questioning.