“We will continue this work.” Russia announces the return of 34 jihadist children from Syria

There will be 34 in total. This Sunday, Russia It announced the return of ISIS jihadists from Syria Islamic State (ISIS)In cooperation with the Syrian and Kurdish authorities at the site. “Russian children in their homeland,” Russian Children’s Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, who has also been targeted by an ICC arrest warrant for the “illegal deportation” of Ukrainian minors, welcomed on Telegram.

The official said: “There are 34 of them, between the ages of 4 and 16 years old,” accompanying her message with pictures of children in the hands of a number of adults, near and inside a plane in Russian colors. In her message on social media, Maria Lvova Belova said that she thanked the “Syrian leaders” for their support, and the “Kurdish side” for its “humanitarian cooperation.” She added: “Children and teenagers who were living in refugee camps in the eastern Euphrates region were returned to their parents.” She added: “We will continue this work: documents for the return of another 150 children are ready,” without providing further details.

4,500 Russians alongside ISIS

In recent years, repatriations of women and children have occurred sporadically in the face of the reluctance of foreign, especially Western, countries to welcome people associated with ISIS. In 2017, Russia decided to systematically return the children of jihadists to their homeland.

Nearly 4,500 Russians, mainly from the Caucasus, fought alongside ISIS, and Russia was among the first countries to organize repatriations from Syria and neighboring Iraq.

20 minutes with AFP