Perpetrator of Quran Burning in Volgograd Apologizes to Muslims
"I apologize to all Muslims, my action was very bad," Nikita Zhuravel said before a court hearing, according to Sada El Balad on Monday.
The video of the Quran burning, which was uploaded online, sparked outrage and prompted a manhunt by Russian investigators. Zhuravel was arrested a few days later and charged with offending religious feelings, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison.
The Investigative Committee announced that Zhuravel had admitted to being paid 10,000 rubles ($125) by Ukrainian agents for carrying out and filming the Quran burning.
The committee also said that the case had been moved to Chechnya for further investigation, following 'numerous appeals from residents of the Chechen Republic who requested to be recognized as victims'.
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