Moscow police apprehended a man suspected of having launched a pro-Islamic State website, the TASS news agency reported Wednesday, citing an unnamed source in law enforcement.
The suspect, arrested in central Moscow, stands accused of having created a website in the name of the Islamic State and having uploaded extremist videos that endorsed the organization's terrorist activities, TASS reported.
Interfax news agency later reported that the suspect hailed from Tajikistan. Media reports did not specify the date of his detention.
The Russian Supreme Court declared the Islamic State a terrorist organization in late December, effectively banning its activities in the country.
The head of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), Alexander Bortnikov, told journalists last week that some 1,700 Russian nationals were estimated to be fighting alongside Islamic State forces in Iraq.
The Islamic State has seized large portions of Iraq and Syria over the past year. The group has carried out mass killings of civilians, soldiers and prisoners of war, as well as the beheadings of several hostages, including American, British and Japanese journalists and aid workers.
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.
