Chechen prosecutors have opened a criminal case against a Russian suspected of having joined Syrian rebels in the fight against President Bashar Assad's regime.
Shakhid Temirbulatov, born in Chechnya, joined the Syrian opposition forces in July, 2013, and is now "actively participating" in the ongoing civil war, the prosecutor's office said in a statement on Thursday.
Temirbulatov is accused of "participating in an armed formation on the territory of a foreign state with goals that contradict the interests of the Russian Federation," the statement said. The charge carries a sentence of up to six years in prison, though the Criminal Code states that people who voluntarily lay down arms are exempt from prosecution.
President Vladimir Putin, whose government is a major supporter of Assad on the U.N. Security Council, said in his op-ed published in The New York Times in September that "hundreds of militants from Western countries and even Russia" who are fighting on the side of the opposition in Syria are an issue of "deep concern" for Moscow.
Federal Security Service deputy head Sergei Smirnov said last September that around 300-400 Russians are fighting in Syria against Assad's forces.
Two natives of the North Caucasus were detained last year for supposed involvement with Syria's opposition, RIA Novosti reported.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
