Moscow’s Basmanny District Court approved the arrest in absentia of three Syrian citizens involved in the destruction of the Russian Su-25 fighter jet in February 2018 and the death of its pilot Roman Filipov, the Court’s press office told RBC. Pre-trial restrictions in the form of two months’ confinement from the time of detention in Russia or extradition from another country have been instituted for Tarek Nawras, Amir Izzat Sohta and Srabi Murad Juma.  The three are also subject to international criminal investigation.

According to the Court, the persons arrested in absentia are accused of participation in illegal paramilitary groups, murder and the desecration of the pilot’s corpse.

The Russian Su-25 was shot down with a surface to air missile on February 3, 2018 during a flight in the de-escalation zone in the Syrian province of Idlib.  The fighter pilot Major Roman Filipov successfully ejected from the aircraft, however he was surrounded by extremists and died in battle.

“Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, Filipov held off the militants until the last minute,” the Russian Defense Ministry reported about the pilot’s fate. “When the militants were within a dozen meters, the severely wounded officer blew up a grenade.”

The officer’s body was transported to Russia by one of the rebel groups in Syria with the assistance of Turkish authorities and by February 6, it had arrived at the Chkalovsky airport near Moscow. President Vladimir Putin also signed an order posthumously awarding Filipov the Hero of the Russian Federation medal.

  Russia, Syrian Rebels, Su-25

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