"Kommersant": a Chechen athlete wanted in case of involvement in IS*

Imam Tesaev, a 21-year-old wrestler from Chechnya, is suspected of involvement in the terrorist organization "Islamic State" (IS), banned in Russia by the court, and an attempt to recruit his friends and acquaintances to the ranks of militants. The athlete is put on the federal wanted list, the "Kommersant" reports today.

According to a coach, after several victories in sports tournaments, Imam Tesaev, a native of Argun, was invited to train in Moscow and twice became a prize-winner of the world wrestling championships. However, in 2015, he asked his coaches to let him leave for Chechnya for exams at the university for a couple of days and disappeared.

According to investigators, Imam Tesaev appeared to join militants in Syria and used social networks in attempts to recruit his relatives and friends into the ranks of the IS*, but, according to the preliminary information, they rejected his calls. The investigators believe the suspect entered Syria through Turkey, where he flew in as a tourist.

*"Islamic State" (IS, ISIL) is a terrorist organization, banned in Russia by court.

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