Russia Launches Large-Scale Anti-ISIL Recruitment Campaign - Senator

Russia is holding a large-scale campaign to stem a new recruitment wave of Russian youth to the Islamic State extremist group, the deputy speaker of Russia’s upper house of parliament said Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – First Deputy Chairman of the Council of the Federation Ilyas Umakhanov spoke to reporters after meeting with Syrian State Minister for National Reconciliation Affairs Ali Haidar.

"We are conducting large-scale efforts through various channels and structures – schools, media, religious organizations – in order to prevent another recruitment wave of young people to the ranks of terrorist organizations and, above all, ISIL," Umakhanov explained.

The senior Russian lawmaker said that the success of political process in Syria hinges on the combined efforts of those countering terrorism and the influence of ISIL. He admitted that Russian and other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) citizens are among the estimated 20,000 foreigners comprising ISIL ranks.

"Some of them have been deceived, and some are just criminals who found refuge there," Umakhanov said.

He stressed that, despite a drop in overall bilateral trade, Russian-Syrian military and technical cooperation continues to develop.

Syria has been in a state of civil war since anti-government protests escalated in 2011, with government forces mounting a two-front campaign against rebel and extremist groups, including ISIL.