An Uzbek citizen was convicted of plotting a terrorist attack in Stavropol.

A military court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Uzbek citizen Zhavokhir Utkirov to 20 years in prison for plotting a terrorist attack on the Stavropol Krai government building.

The case was heard in the Southern District Military Court since December 2024, and the verdict was handed down today.

According to the prosecution and the court, on January 14, 2023, Utkirov recorded a video in front of the camera, agreeing to act in the interests of the international terrorist organization Islamic State*. He sent the recording to a representative of this group.

Later, on instructions from the organization's leader, Utkirov was obliged to select a Russian town and conduct reconnaissance of a target there to carry out a terrorist attack. On September 23, Utkirov arrived in Russia from Uzbekistan, reported his chosen town – Stavropol – and photographed several objects there. He was also supposed to rent an apartment to make homemade explosives, the press service of the Southern District Military Court reported today on its Telegram channel.

In December, his superior informed Utkirov of the intended location of the terrorist attack, indicating the Stavropol Krai government building. Utkirov then purchased explosive components, constructed an improvised explosive device, and then transported it to a hiding place. On December 18, 2023, security forces detained a citizen of Uzbekistan.

According to the court's verdict, the defendant was found guilty of participating in the activities of a terrorist organization, a terrorist act committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy, and other crimes. He was sentenced to 20 years in a maximum-security penal colony, with the first five years to be served in prison, and a fine of 1 million rubles, the court's press service clarified.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that investigators in Stavropol suspected a local resident of providing financial support to members of a terrorist organization. The court remanded the woman in custody.

* is a terrorist organization banned in Russia.

** Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) is banned in Russia.