All news

Russian asks UN to put Ahrar ash-Sham, Jaysh al-Islam on sanction list — Russian UN envoy

The reason for this step, in his words, was numerous reports that these groups active in Syria have close links with such terrorist organizations as Islamic State and Al Qaeda
Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT
Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin
© EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT

UNITED NATIONS, April 27. /TASS/. Russia has filed a request with the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the United Nations Security Council to put Ahrar ash-Sham and Jaysh al-Islam, which are reported to regularly violate the ceasefire regime in Syria, on the sanction list of terrorist groups, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said on Tuesday.

"On April 26, the Russian delegation lodged with the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the United Nations Security Council (1267/1989/2253) on sanctions against Islamic State and Al Qaeda a request on putting two organizations - Ahrar ash-Sham and Jaysh al-Islam - on the sanction list of this auxiliary body of the United Nations," Churkin said in a statement.

The reason for this step, in his words, was numerous reports that these groups active in Syria have close links with such terrorist organizations as Islamic State and Al Qaeda, offer them and receive from them financial, logistics and military support.

When put on the list of terrorist organization along with Islamic State and Al Qaeda, these groups will stop to be covered by the ceasefire regime in Syria and it will be possible to deliver strikes against them.

According to the Russian diplomat, Russia began preparatory work to promote its request to the committee several months ago but decided to take a pause when another round of intra-Syrian talks started in Geneva. But now that these groups are reported to regularly violate the ceasefire regime in Syria, the Russian side has taken a decision to resume its request.

The Russian United Nations envoy told TASS on April 22 that Russia is taking effort to add more groups of Syrian militants to the United Nations Security Council list of prohibited terrorist organizations. "We raise this issue and take efforts on it," he said, adding that it takes time to supplement the United Nations Security Council lists. "Consent is needed from everybody [every member of the Security Council - TASS]. They must reach a consensus," he said.