Russia says nanny 'schizophrenic' as Syria claim emerges

Woman told journalists "Allah ordered" the killing as a judge ordered her held in custody for two months


Afp March 03, 2016
PHOTO: REUTERS

MOSCOW: Moscow investigators said Thursday that a nanny accused of decapitating a child has been diagnosed schizophrenic, as footage emerged of her apparently linking the killing to Russia's bombing in Syria.

Suspect Gyulchekhra Bobokulova from Muslim-majority Uzbekistan -- whom the press have dubbed "the bloody nanny" -- was detained on Monday as she was waving the child's severed head outside a metro station in northwestern Moscow. She was sent for psychiatric examinations.

Nanny who beheaded Russian child says it was revenge for Putin's Syria strikes

Arriving at a Moscow court on Wednesday, the 38-year-old told journalists that "Allah ordered" the killing as a judge ordered her held in custody for two months over the murder of the girl, whom investigators say was aged either four or five.

Undated footage later emerged on the Internet appearing to show the mother-of-three saying the attack was "revenge" for Russian President Vladimir Putin's bombing campaign in Syria, which began in September.

"I took revenge," she says in the video in response to a question from a man who cannot be seen

"Against the one that spilled blood," she says, dressed in the same clothes she wore in court.

"Putin is bombing. Bombs from airplanes. Why are you bombing Muslim? Nobody talks about it. They also want to live."

After the appearance of the video, Russia's Investigative Committee -- which reports directly to Putin -- swiftly released a statement saying Bobokulova has "long been diagnosed with schizophrenia".

"For a person who has long been diagnosed with schizophrenia, the motive at the moment the crime was committed, as a rule, does not coincide with the explanations given after the event," committee spokesperson Vladimir Markin said.

Woman arrested in Moscow for murder after brandishing child's severed head

"I appeal to the media: do not make premature conclusions and protect the psychological state of your viewers."

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also dismissed Bobokulova's apparent claims that the killing was revenge for Putin's Syria campaign.

"It is obvious that we are talking about a deranged person," Peskov said. "You need to relate to her words as you would to the words of a deranged person."

Bobokulova is suspected of butchering the girl at the family's apartment in northwestern Moscow, before torching it and fleeing the scene.

Witnesses reported seeing an agitated woman dressed in black who threatened to "blow everyone up," with some media reports saying she shouted "Allahu Akbar" -- Arabic for "God is greatest" -- as she paced up and down with the child's head outside a metro station.

Russia's national television channels have almost entirely ignored the brutal slaying of the child Nastya, who suffered from epilepsy and learning disabilities.

The Kremlin has defended the blackout while rejecting claims it ordered the move, with Peskov saying the subject was "probably too monstrous to be shown on television".

COMMENTS (2)

curious2 | 8 years ago | Reply She probably has mental issues - but many would question the mental competence of Russian officials who support someone like Assad.
Bunny Rabbit | 8 years ago | Reply Yeahhh thats what the russians will say . IF they dont want such incidents then they should withdraw from Syria this min.
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ