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Interpol launches search for Russian student feared to be recruited by IS — lawyer

Varvara Karaulova, a 19-year old student of the Moscow State University, went missing on May 27 and later left for Istanbul

MOSCOW, June 2. /TASS/. The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) has started search for a Moscow student allegedly recruited by the Islamic State terrorist group, her family's lawyer said on Tuesday.

Varvara Karaulova, a 19-year old student of the Moscow State University, went missing on May 27 and later left for Istanbul, Alexander Karabanov said.

"The search requests have been sent to five Interpol offices in the UK, US and Turkey," he said adding there were reasons to believe that the girl had been recruited by radical Islamists.

The lawyer said Karaulova was a perfect English, German and Arabic speaker, studied the oriental culture and religioin and read many books on Islam.

"Witnesses say she used to leave home wearing casual clothes and then changed into traditional Islamic dresses," Karabanov said.

He said he believed the girl had been taken away from Russia by Islamic State recruiters.

"We hope for Turkey's help in search for the girl and are planning to hold a news conference there soon," the lawyer added.