The Tsarnaev brothers' family, immediately after their identities were confirmed by Boston police and the FBI, claimed that the FBI had contacted the suspects years ago and had monitored their activity for years since. The mother of the suspects claimed to Russia Today that her sons were set up by the FBI. Russia Today, in an article titled, "'They were set up, FBI followed them for years'- Tsarnaevs' mother to RT," stated of the suspects' mother:
She would say of the FBI to Russia Today:
“They used to come [to our] home, they used to talk to me…they were telling me that he [the older, 26-y/o Tamerlan] was really an extremist leader and that they were afraid of him. They told me whatever information he is getting, he gets from these extremist sites… they were controlling him, they were controlling his every step…and now they say that this is a terrorist act! Never ever is this true, my sons are innocent!”...
http://www.filmsforaction.org/news/the_fbi_has_now_lied_about_what_they_knew_about_the_boston_bombing_suspects_twice/