The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has confirmed that it has detained a Russian national in Odesa, who was on the international wanted list, on the suspicion of being involved in terrorism.
The press service of the SBU reported on Monday that the 31-year-old Russian national and his companions (also Russian citizens) were detained during a special operation on Feb. 4.
"While hiding from investigators, the criminal … changed his appearance and location," the press service said.
These people are also suspected of being behind a bomb blast in Odesa on Jan. 4, 2012.
The Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine sent a criminal case earlier opened by the Interior Ministry agencies under Article 263 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine to the investigatory department of the SBU department in Odesa region.
Earlier, a source in the law enforcement agencies told Interfax-Ukraine about the detention of a Russian national suspected of organizing an act of terrorism.
On Feb. 5, the press service of the SBU department in Odesa region and the public liaison department of the Interior Ministry Department in Odesa region refused to comment on the report, and said that an official report about the arrest would appear no sooner than on Monday.
In early January the main department of the Interior Ministry in Odesa region opened a criminal case on a fire at 24 Tyraspolska Street in Odesa, as a result of which a 26-year-old citizen of Russia was killed and a 28-year-old citizens of Kazakhstan was seriously injured.
The police informed then that the fire was caused by a gas explosion.
But the agency’s source said that the fire could have been caused by a bomb.
According to Odesa media, pieces of a home-made bomb were found on the scene of the fire, and the police and Berkut special police detachments are guarding the hospital where the injured Kazakh national is hospitalized.
On Jan. 18, Odesa police office put on the wanted list two criminals suspected of especially serious crimes: Adam Osmaev, born in 1981, and Aslanbek Osmaev, born in 1961, both nationals of the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation.
