Putin contradicts his own statement about the mass shooting in Crocus City Hall mall

On March 25, Putin seemingly acknowledged that the Islamic fundamentalist group ISIS were behind the attack, but a week later, he unexpectedly changed his tune.

"We know that radical Islamists carried out the attack," Putin asserted a few days after the mass shooting, which claimed the lives of at least 144 people.

However, on April 4, the Russian dictator instead promoted a fabricated narrative alleging “Ukrainian traces” in the mass shooting.

"Russia cannot be the target of terrorist attacks by Islamic fundamentalists," Putin said,claiming that Russia, a country which regularly imprisons representatives of indigenous religions, Islamic groups, and Christian faiths who disagree with his policies, is “a unique example of interfaith harmony and unity.”