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Investigators have brought charges against a man suspected of taking hostages in a Citibank office in central Moscow, the press service of the Russian Investigative Committee has told TASS agency.

According to the statement, Aram Petrosyan, 55, is charged with committing a crime under Part 2 Article 206 of Russia’s Criminal Code (hostage-taking in respect of two or more persons with the use of an object as a weapon).

To remind, a man who called himself Aram Petrosyan, seized the Citibank office located at 15, Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street, 800 meters from the Kremlin, at around 6.30 p.m. Moscow Time (1530GMT) on Wednesday.
He had a box wrapped in yellow tape that he claimed was an explosive device and threatened to blow up the office. Police later said it turned out to be a fake bomb. When the man entered the bank, there were six people inside: three clients, two cashiers and a security guard. By 10.00 p.m. Moscow time the perpetrator freed all hostages and surrendered to the police.

During the interrogation, Petrosyan said he did not plan to kill anyone, but wanted to draw attention to the problem of (bankruptcy) by his actions. He later pleaded guilty giving a confession.
A court is expected to consider the investigators’ petition on Petrosyan’s arrest on Friday.