BOSTON: Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s father was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, claiming he was tortured in a Russian camp during the Russian-Chechen war in the 1990s, a psychiatrist testified Tuesday.
Dr. Alexander Niss, who treated Anzor Tsarnaev from 2003 to 2005, said the Chechen man showed typical symptoms of PTSD, including anxiety, panic attacks, flashbacks and paranoia.
Niss took the stand during the penalty phase of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s trial, during which the jury will decide whether the 21-year-old former student should get the death penalty or life in prison for the 2013 bombing that killed three people and wounded more than 260.
The psychiatrist’s testimony appeared designed to support the claim by Tsarnaev’s lawyers about dysfunction in his family. The defense told jurors earlier that both of Tsarnaev’s parents were diagnosed with mental illness.
Tsarnaev’s lawyers are hoping his background — combined with their claim that he was heavily influenced by his volatile older brother, Tamerlan — will convince the jury he does not deserve a death sentence. Tamerlan was killed days after the bombing during a getaway attempt.
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev lived in the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan and the Dagestan region of Russia before moving to the US in 2002.
On Monday, for the first time since his trial began four months ago, Tsarnaev dropped his blank expression and wept as his Russian aunt sobbed uncontrollably on the stand. He grabbed a tissue and repeatedly dabbed his eyes and cheeks.
Boston bomber’s lawyer points to family dysfunction
Boston bomber’s lawyer points to family dysfunction
Italian PM pledges to deepen cooperation with African states
- The plan, launched in 2024, aims to promote investment-led cooperation rather than traditional aid
ADDIS ABABA: Italy pledged to deepen cooperation with African countries at its second Italy-Africa summit, the first held on African soil, to review projects launched in critical sectors such as energy and infrastructure during Italy’s first phase of the Mattei Plan for Africa.
The plan, launched in 2024, aims to promote investment-led cooperation rather than traditional aid.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addressed dozens of African heads of state and governments in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, and reiterated that a successful partnership would depend on Italy’s “ability to draw from African wisdom” and ensure lessons are learned.
“We want to build things together,” she told African heads of state. “We want to be more consistent with the needs of the countries involved.”
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Italy had provided Africa with a gateway to Europe through these partnerships.
“This is a moment to move from dialogue to action,” he said.
“By combining Africa’s energetic and creative population with Europe’s experience, technology, and capital, we can build solutions that deliver prosperity to our continents and beyond.”
After the Italy-Africa summit concluded, African leaders remained in Addis Ababa for the annual African Union Summit.
Kenyan writer and political analyst Nanjala Nyabola said tangible results from such summits depend on preparations made by countries.
African governments often focus on “optics instead of actually making summits a meaningful engagement,” she said.
Instead of waiting for a list of demands, countries should “present the conclusions of an extended period of mapping the national needs” and engage in dialogue to determine how those needs can be met.
Since it was launched two years ago, the Mattei Plan has directly involved 14 African nations and has launched or advanced around 100 projects in crucial sectors, including energy and climate transition, agriculture and food security, physical and digital infrastructure, healthcare, water, culture and education, training, and the development of artificial intelligence, according to the Italian government.
