In a televised video conference on Monday evening, Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that radical Islamists were responsible for the deadliest terrorist attack in Russia in 20 years. However, he also repeated his unproven claim that Ukraine had involvement in the attack.

The attack, which occurred on Friday night, took place at the Crocus City Hall on the outskirts of Moscow and claimed the lives of at least 139 people. The Islamic State (IS) terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack, a claim confirmed by the United States, which believes that the group acted alone.

During the conference, Putin suggested that the attack was part of a series of attempts by those who have been at war with Russia since 2014. He referred to them as "the neo-Nazi Kyiv regime" and questioned why the terrorists attempted to flee to Ukraine after committing the crime.

The Kremlin is now facing calls to reinstate the death penalty following the release of videos showing Russian security officers torturing the detained assailants. One video shows a man having his ear cut off and being force-fed it. Despite these calls, the Kremlin has stated that it is not currently considering reintroducing capital punishment.

Four suspects, all citizens of Tajikistan, were detained and charged with terrorism over the weekend. However, concerns have been raised about the torture inflicted upon them by Russian security officers. The suspects showed signs of torture when they appeared in court. The gruesome videos of the torture have sparked outrage and condemnation both within Russia and internationally.

While Russia calls for tougher measures, such as the death penalty, to combat terrorism, French President Emmanuel Macron has warned against any "exploitation" of the attack, urging Russia not to use it as an excuse to escalate the conflict with Ukraine. Macron emphasized that it was an IS branch that planned and carried out the attack.

Russia has suffered from Islamist terrorism for many years, with notable incidents including the 2004 Beslan school siege. The recent attack has raised questions about the effectiveness of Russian authorities in detecting and preventing such plots.

As the investigation into the attack continues, there are concerns about the alleged involvement of Ukraine and the torture of suspects. Human rights groups and media outlets have raised alarm about the open display of torture and the need for accountability.

In the midst of discussions about the death penalty and security measures, some argue that the focus should be on preventing future atrocities rather than getting distracted by divisive debates.