The official said 20-year-old Alexander Koptsev suffered from schizotypical disorder, a chronic condition that renders him temporarily insane.
On January 11, 2006, Koptsev, 20, stabbed nine people in the synagogue with a hunting knife he had taken from his father.
Prosecutor Kira Gudim said it had been Koptsev's third attempt to attack a synagogue, after two previous attacks in late December and early January had ended in failure. Gudim said Koptsev had come to the conclusion that Jews were enemies of Russians after reading anti-Semitic books and Web sites, and had decided to kill Jews.
Moscow Prosecutor Alexander Zuyev said Koptsev, who stands accused of the racially aggravated attempted murder of two or more people, committing acts designed to denigrate a group of people on religious or ethnic grounds, and racially aggravated grievous bodily harm, now faces eight to 20 years in prison or even a life imprisonment if convicted.
On February 28, Koptsev pleaded not guilty at the Moscow City Court.
"The Criminal Code has been written by Jews and the Jewish mafia," he said. "Therefore, I plead not guilty."
Koptsev's mother Tatiana said she was shocked by her son's actions. She said "he had gone nuts."
