Kyrgyz national, reportedly on way to join IS, detained in Osh
Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
Publication Date | 1 August 2016 |
Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Kyrgyz national, reportedly on way to join IS, detained in Osh, 1 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57db999913.html [accessed 20 October 2022] |
Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
August 01, 2016
By RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service
BISHKEK – Kyrgyz authorities say they have detained a 20-year-old man on his way to join the Islamic State (IS) extremist group in Syria.
Kyrgyzstan's Border Guarding Service said on August 1 that the man from the southern region of Batken was detained at the Osh airport while trying to leave the city for the Russian city of St. Petersburg.
It said the man, whose identity was not disclosed, had confessed he was planning to travel to Turkey and then Syria, where he wanted to join the IS militants.
Kyrgyz authorities said in June that several Kyrgyz nationals, who allegedly had fought alongside militants in Syria and Iraq, had been arrested after returning to Kyrgyzstan.
Bishkek says a total of more than 500 Kyrgyz citizens have joined the IS group in both Syria and Iraq.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website