"Novaya Gazeta": in Chechnya, children are detained en masse on suspicion of links with IS

Mass detentions of minors during power agents’ raids after the attacks on policemen in Grozny indicate that the "Syrian issue" is rapidly increasing its audience among young Chechens, the “Novaya Gazeta” reports.

Raids intended to identify suspects involved in illegal armed formations (IAFs) and links with the Islamic State (IS) (a terrorist organization, banned in Russia by the court, – note of "Caucasian Knot") were held in Chechnya throughout January. According to some sources, about 200 people, including minors, were detained.

According to the “Novaya Gazeta”, "the detainees may be conditionally split into two categories."

"Firstly, those who took part or were involved in attacks on law enforcers; they are a clear minority among the detainees; and they will be charged. The overwhelming majority of the detainees, suspected of links with the IS, are members of closed chats or pupils of madrasas and other religious establishments. However, there are those who really tried to leave for Syria," the newspaper reports.

"Children are registered at local inspectorates for minors’ matters," reads the article of the “Novaya Gazeta”.

According to the publication, "all the families know the reason for detention and the police station, where their relative is kept, but no one applies to the Prosecutor's Office or the Investigating Committee."

"For the first time, severe repressive measures were applied even to minors attending Islamic educational establishments," says the article.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.