Russian MoD: Turkey provides assistance to IS

The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has reported that militants in Syria, including fighters from Northern Caucasus, receive assistance from the territory of Turkey. The Turkish media report about the detention of 33 people, who tried to join the grouping "Islamic State" (IS), including a female citizen of Russia.

In the territory of Syria, as a result of the actions of the Russian aviation and Syrian government troops, the militants are suffering losses and are forced to leave their positions. Meanwhile, in the north-eastern part of the province of Latakia, "militants regularly receive new fighters" from Turkey, the website of the Russian MoD reports.

The assistance is provided to IS militants, the "Regions.ru" reports with reference to the Russian MoD.

Meanwhile, on January 10, Turkey detained 33 people on suspicion of trying to join IS militants in Syria, including a female citizen of Russia. Besides, the Turkish Minister of Internal Affairs has reported on banning 35,690 people from 124 countries to enter Turkey on suspicion of having relationships with the IS, the Turkish newspaper "Hurriyet" reports.

The Russian Embassy in Turkey has not received any formal confirmation of the detention of the female Russian citizen, the "Interfax" reports with reference to Igor Mityakov, the press attaché of the Russian Embassy in Ankara.

Earlier, in the interview to the "Caucasian Knot" entitled "Travel to the 'Islamic State' and back", 21-year-old Furkat, who was a member of the IS, has said that Turkish border guards create no serious obstacles to supporters of the IS, including citizens of Russia, who wish to cross the Turkish-Syrian border.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.