Fourteen people suspected of being involved in a group that makes fake passports for Islamic State extremists have been detained in the Moscow region, the Interfax news agency reported Thursday, citing the press service of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB).
The group is accused of forging passports and other documents for Russian citizens traveling to Syria to fight with the Islamic State, and for Islamic State members coming to Russia from Syria.
A large number of forged documents, stamps, prints, equipment and extremist literature were found during searches by the security services.
The suspects often changed their place of residence and used clandestine means of communication, including software that hides user data when using the Internet, according to the FSB
Earlier in February, seven alleged members of the Islamic State who were planning attacks in Moscow, St. Petersburg and the Sverdlovsk region were arrested in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg.
The Islamic State is a terrorist organization banned in Russia.
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.
