The defendants, including the attackers, face charges that could result in prison sentences ranging from seven years and six months to 349 years and six months.

Two masked men carried out the attack on Jan. 28 during Sunday service at the church in the Sarıyer district, killing 52-year-old Tuncer Cihan. The attack was claimed by ISIL-K shortly afterwards.

The court’s decision follows an investigation by the chief public prosecutor’s office into the defendants, 31 of whom are currently under arrest. A previous indictment related to the case had been rejected by the court due to procedural deficiencies.

Eleven individuals, including the church’s priest, Anton Bulai, were listed as «complainants» in the indictment.

Among the defendants, David Tanduev and Amirjon Kholiqov, the perpetrators, along with Edelkhan Inazhaev and Zharaidat Esmurzieva, are facing charges of attempting to overthrow the constitutional order through force and violence, membership in an armed terrorist organization and intentional killing.