YouTube releases video with Dagestani doctor from IS

On the video, a man who introduced himself as Vladimir Oleinikov from Dagestan reported after his detention in Syria that he was engaged in provision of medical treatment for militants of the terrorist organization "Islamic State" (IS) banned in Russia.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that according to the International Crisis Group (ICG), the number of residents of Russia who joined Syrian militants in the period from summer of 2014 to December 2015, included not only natives of Northern Caucasus, but also people from other regions, including ethnic Russians who left for the Middle East to work as teachers and doctors.

On January 6, the WarJournal Channel on YouTube released the video entitled "An IS militant from Russia captured by the SDF" (Syrian Democratic Forces, note of the "Caucasian Knot").

In the video, the man reported that he joined the IS about three years ago and lived in the provinces of Raqqa and Mayadin and the city of Abu Kamal, where he provided medical assistance to militants as well.

When asked why he tried to cross the border to Turkey, Vladimir Oleinikov replied that only in Turkey he can "live freely", but in Russia he will be "imprisoned."

The man was detained while he was trying to leave Syria for Turkey, the "Kavkaz.Realii" reports.

The authenticity of the video is not confirmed.

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