Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan has conveyed his condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin following yesterday’s shooting rampage at a Moscow concert hall that killed at least 143 people.

“With sincere sorrow, I received the tragic news of the terrorist attack that took place in Moscow and took the lives of innocent people. Armenia strongly condemns this inhumane crime against the civilian population,” Pashinyan wrote in a telegram message to Putin.

Reuters quotes Russian state-controlled broadcaster RT chief editor Margarita Simonyan as saying the death toll had climbed to 143.  

Russia's Investigative Committee earlier said at least 115 were killed when camouflage-clad gunmen opened fire with automatic weapons at concertgoers in the Crocus City Hall near Moscow.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, the group's Amaq agency said on Telegram.

Simonyan, a strong supporter of Putin, accused Western intelligence of "direct participation" in the attack.

Newsweek writes that Simonyan, in a post on Telegram and X, accused Western intelligence agencies of pushing the idea that ISIS was behind the attack weeks before yesterday’s shooting.

Simonyan points to a March 7 warning issued by the U.S. Embassy in Russia that extremists" are planning an imminent attack on large gatherings in Moscow as proof of Western involvement.

On March 7, Simonyan warned of Armenia’s demise if it pulled out of the Russian-backed CSTO military alliance.