Over 4,000 Russian citizens fighting on side of terrorists in Syria – Moscow

More than 4,000 Russian citizens are fighting on the side of the terrorists in Syria and will be criminally prosecuted upon their return to Russia, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov said at a counter-terrorism conference of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). “Russia’s law enforcement authorities are currently monitoring more than 4,000 Russian citizens who left the country to participate in armed gangs” in Syria, TASS quoted him as saying in Rome on Thursday. The diplomat added that criminal cases were launched against almost 3,000 of them, and more than 3,700 are on the wanted list. Bringing terrorists to justice is a top priority, while their rehabilitation and reintegration is a secondary issue, Syromolotov said.