Russian security services establish identity of almost 3,000 Russians suspected of involvement in terrorist organizations in Syria, Iraq in 2015 - NAC
MOSCOW. Dec 15 (Interfax) - Russian security services have established the identity of almost 3,000 Russian nationals suspected of being involved in international terrorist organizations operating in the Middle East in 2015, National Anti-Terrorism Committee Chairman, Federal Security Service head Alexander Bortnikov said at a meeting of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee.
"As of today, the identity of over 2,900 Russians suspected of being involved in the activity of international terrorist organizations in Syria and Iraq has been established. Some 198 of them were killed in action abroad, and 214 returned to Russia. All of them were put under surveillance by law enforcement agencies: 80 were convicted and 41 were arrested," Bortnikov said.
"The attempted departure of more than 100 Russian citizens to Syria and Iraq were prevented in the course of coordinated actions," the FSB director said.
"Investigative bodies have opened criminal cases against over 1,000 Russian citizens suspected of participating in the hostilities outside our country," Bortnikov said.
Targeted preventive measures taken in 2015 "enlarged by almost three times the number of persons inclined to quit terrorist and extremist activity compared to the previous year," he said.
"Their number grew from 34 in 2014 to 98 in 2015. Measures are being taken for social adaptation of those individuals, as well as persons who have served their time for committing terrorist crimes," he said.
